US Institute Calls for Unified Response to Mediterranean Instability Caused by Houthi Attacks

The US Foreign Policy Research Institute said that the instability caused by the Houthi missile strikes in Yemen shows how vulnerable the Mediterranean region is to geopolitical turmoil.

The institute indicated - in an analysis by the expert in geopolitics, security and geoeconomics, Emmanuel Rossi, and translated by "Yemeni Youth Net" - that the India and Mediterranean region is facing a growing state of instability, from Houthi missile strikes that disrupt vital sea routes, to piracy and regional conflicts in the Horn of Africa.

Iran-backed Houthi militias have repeatedly targeted commercial vessels passing through the Suez Canal, a vital artery linking Europe and Asia. The attacks have disrupted global supply chains, forcing some shipping companies to reroute ships around Africa — an option that increases costs and delivery times.

According to the analysis, this geopolitical point is exacerbated by reports that Russia may supply the Houthis with hypersonic Yakhont missiles, which could exploit the Yemeni conflict to advance its strategic interests in Ukraine and beyond.

He noted that these interconnected crises highlight how global security risks converge in the Indo-Mediterranean region, with regional instability directly impacting the global economy.

The institute said that this region embodies the close connection between political stability and geo-economic conditions, warning that the possibility of Russia supplying the Houthis with advanced weapons adds an additional complexity, and reflects Moscow's broader geopolitical strategy to challenge Western interests.

Despite attempts by cargo ships to hide their AIS signals, Russian satellites have enabled the Houthis to track trade routes and plan targeted attacks. On the other hand, while China has not provided direct military support to the Houthis, it has adopted a similarly ambiguous stance.

It refrains from participating in U.S.-led maritime security operations, preferring a low-key approach that allows it to benefit economically from regional stability without actively contributing. At the same time, it has allegedly paid no attention to the group’s efforts to obtain weapons-related technology from Chinese sources.

This strategic ambiguity between Russia and China reflects the divergent approaches of the Indo-Mediterranean Quad members. Russia and China are global rivals of the United States, and they have been met with a firm counter-position.

While Italy is moving towards competition, it is adopting a less aggressive approach, while India maintains a delicate position – competing with China but still relying on Russia for military and energy supplies. Meanwhile, the UAE maintains primarily commercial relations with both countries, with Russia playing a pivotal role in the OPEC+ framework.

But assuming that Russia and China have already provided significant assistance to the Houthis in destabilizing maritime security in the Mediterranean, in this case, the four parties in the Indo-Mediterranean Quad are likely to agree to recognize this common threat, leading to a more unified response.