The United States is working to “convince” shipping companies that the multinational force called for by Washington guarantees the security of navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, in light of the attacks launched by the Houthis against ships in the southern Red Sea.

The US Department of Defense spokesman for the Middle East and Africa told Bloomberg on Thursday that the Pentagon works “almost daily” with the shipping industry “to learn about the needs and provide assurances that the international community is there to help provide safe passage.”< /p>

It seems that so far, according to Bloomberg, “the Pentagon’s attempts are not considered sufficient for most shipping lines, so that they bet that (Houthi) drones or missiles will not be able to bypass the defenses and hit their ships.”

Retired naval officer and senior consultant at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Mark Cancian, told the agency: “It will take some time for them (shipping companies) to be sure of the security situation. If it turns out that the United States and the coalition can maintain the security of the shipping lane, companies will return, but at the moment they cannot really be sure.”