Yemen & Belgian Engagement: As Houthi Escalation Threatens Red Sea Trade

Yemen has stepped up its diplomatic engagement with European governments as concerns grow over the military activities of the Houthi movement and the potential consequences for international shipping, following a meeting between Foreign Minister Dr Afrah Al-Zouba and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot in Brussels.

During the meeting, Al-Zouba delivered a written message from President and Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Dr Rashad Al-Alimi, to Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Discussions focused on the impact of Houthi military escalation on regional security, maritime navigation and the protection of international shipping routes.

Al-Zouba called on Belgium to support the designation of the Houthi militia as a terrorist organisation, arguing that such a move would help restrict its sources of financing and disrupt the supply of weapons sustaining its military operations.

She also highlighted Yemen's concerns over the group's activities, including its military operations, the continued siege of Taiz and the threat posed by its expanding military capabilities along the country's western coastline.

Prévot reaffirmed Belgium's support for Yemen's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and the continued detention of United Nations and humanitarian personnel, while describing threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea as a serious precedent.

Belgium also reiterated its commitment to international efforts to protect maritime corridors, including through European-Gulf cooperation and the European Union's naval mission, Operation Aspides.

The discussions come amid renewed concern over the security of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and provides a critical passage for vessels travelling between the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal and European markets.

The waterway is particularly important to Asian exporters, including manufacturers and commodity producers in Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan and other regional economies, which depend on predictable shipping connections to Europe and the Mediterranean.

Houthi attacks on commercial vessels began escalating in November 2023, prompting major international shipping companies to reconsider their use of the Red Sea route. Some vessels were diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, adding significant distance, fuel consumption, insurance costs and delivery time to journeys between Asia and Europe.

The alternative route around southern Africa can add approximately 10 to 14 days to voyages, creating knock-on effects for freight rates, inventory planning and the reliability of international supply chains. The disruption has also demonstrated how military instability in a geographically concentrated maritime chokepoint can affect businesses and consumers thousands of kilometres away.

The security threat has not disappeared. A US Maritime Administration advisory issued in 2026 reported renewed Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, including incidents involving vessels off the Saudi coast in August. It also warned that ships with certain national, ownership or commercial associations could face heightened risks when transiting the southern Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.

The broader international response is increasingly focused not only on naval protection but also on strengthening the capacity of regional governments to secure their own coastlines and prevent weapons trafficking.

On November 11, the European Commission announced plans to step up cooperation with Yemen on maritime security, including support for the country's coastguard, improved maritime surveillance and efforts to curb arms trafficking. The initiative is intended to complement existing European naval operations, particularly Operation Aspides, which was established to help protect commercial shipping and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

For Yemen, the issue is closely connected to the restoration of state authority and control over its territory and coastline. For international trading nations, it is a question of ensuring that one of the world's important shipping corridors remains accessible and safe.

The meeting in Brussels therefore reflects a wider diplomatic effort by the internationally recognised Yemeni government to secure European backing, while highlighting the growing connection between Yemen's internal conflict, regional military tensions and the stability of global commerce.