On December 19, 2023, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that the United States would form a new multinational force to protect ships transiting through the Red Sea from the threat of drone and ballistic missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels. This initiative is supported and actively participated by the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain. Some of these countries will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while others will provide intelligence support.
The Red Sea is an important shipping route connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, and is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. However, due to the presence of the Houthis in Yemen, the shipping security situation in the Red Sea region has been a matter of concern. Recently, a number of ships in the Red Sea and nearby waters have been attacked by the Houthis, causing international shipping companies to announce the suspension of navigation in the region, which has had a serious impact on the international ** and shipping industry. In order to ensure the safety of shipping in the Red Sea region, joint multinational operations are imperative. This proposal of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin received a positive response from several countries. Strengthen patrols and surveillance of the Red Sea region to effectively prevent and counter the threat of Houthi rebels.