ERBIL () - The Houthi group in Yemen has formally assured the European Union that it will not attack European vessels in the Red Sea, according to the Financial Times, in a message that signals an effort by the group to portray its conflict as being directed solely against Saudi Arabia rather than international commercial shipping.
Two diplomats familiar with the matter told the Financial Times on Friday, that the Houthis made the assurances in a letter sent to the European Union’s foreign policy and security officials. The letter emphasized that the group’s recent military operations along Yemen’s southern coast were not intended to disrupt international shipping through the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The letter was delivered to European officials on Sept. 10, the same day the Houthis seized control of Yemen’s Mokha port and later took control of several other islands in the Red Sea.
The message appears aimed at demonstrating that the Houthis’ conflict is focused solely on Saudi Arabia, particularly after the group broke a 2022 ceasefire in July and launched attacks against ports and oil facilities in the country.
The Houthis had previously delivered similar assurances to Washington through Omani mediation. US President Donald Trump said the Houthis had contacted him and told him they did not want a war with the United States and would allow most ships to pass through.
Alongside the assurances, major container shipping companies, including Maersk and CMA CGM, have increased their voyages through the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb, with vessel traffic reaching its highest level in nearly three years.
Vincent Clerc, chief executive of Maersk, said no attacks had been carried out against container ships during the past year, describing this as evidence that the Houthis were not seeking to target such vessels.
Oil tankers, however, continue to view the situation with caution. They frequently switch off their GPS tracking systems to prevent their routes toward Saudi ports from becoming visible.
Saudi Arabia has meanwhile intensified efforts to secure support from its Western allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would send troops, radar systems and defense equipment to the Saudi port of Yanbu to protect the country’s oil infrastructure. He stressed, however, that “France will not participate in any war.”
The United Kingdom has also deployed a specialized aerial refueling aircraft to support Saudi air defenses.
At the same time, the European Union and Riyadh are discussing the formation of a joint alliance aimed at protecting maritime security in the region.
The Houthi assurances to the European Union come as shipping activity through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb increases, while commercial operators and Western governments continue to assess security risks surrounding one of the region’s key maritime routes.
