Houthi Attacks on Oil Trade Leave Saudi Arabia Struggling

President Donald Trump's reluctance to provide air support to Saudi Arabia in its conflict against Houthi rebels has left the kingdom struggling to protect its oil exports. The Houthis have been attacking ships traversing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key waterway for global oil trade.

The attacks, partly in retaliation for a Saudi attack on the airport in Yemen's capital Sanaa in mid-July, have led to a significant reduction in oil exports from the region. Annelle Sheline, a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and former foreign affairs officer at the State Department, attributes Trump's hesitation to a growing paucity of American missile defense interceptors.

Many of these interceptors were moved from other key theaters, such as the Pacific, to support Trump's war against Iran. With over seven months of conflict in Yemen, Sheline believes that Trump has come to realize he 'doesn't really have the resources to spare on another front right now.' This stance may also be a form of punishment for Saudi Arabia's refusal to allow the US to use their territory to launch strikes against Iran.

The situation is having an unexpected benefit: countries around the world are turning to alternative sources of oil, including Venezuelan and Russian supplies. While this shift may ultimately contribute to a reduction in fossil fuel dependence, it is unlikely to drive a complete green transition.