Houthi Advances Threaten Saudi Energy Exports and US Relations
The Houthi rebels' rapid advances in Yemen have put Saudi Arabia's strategic interests at risk, particularly its energy exports. The Houthis have targeted Saudi cities and infrastructure, complicating a widening Middle East war that has seen a 2022 truce unravel.
The seizure of territory near the Red Sea has threatened Saudi energy exports, which rely on the Strait of Hormuz for passage. A recent uptick in attacks on Saudi assets has put the viability of a workaround to Hormuz at risk, forcing the kingdom to reroute oil through the Suez Canal and add weeks to its export times.
Saudi Arabia's options for responding to the crisis are limited, with little appetite for a new military operation in Yemen. Instead, Riyadh is seeking to build a multilateral coalition of states to ensure maritime and regional security in the Red Sea, including Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan.