A group of major countries, including the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on Wednesday, warning the Houthis of further attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

In the statement, issued by the White House, the signatory countries affirmed that the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and deeply destabilizing.

Observers say that this statement is a final message before launching a massive strike on the Houthi bases and camps, at a time when the Red Sea is witnessing tension and an increase in the intensity of the attacks of the Houthis, who are indifferent to the consequences of their interference in the international shipping line.

Scoop24 ​​republishes the text of the statement:

Joint Statement by the Governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom

The White House, Washington 

January 3, 2024

Recognizing the general consensus expressed by 44 countries around the world on 19 December 2023, as well as the statement issued by the UN Security Council on 1 December 2023, which condemned the Houthi attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, and in light of the ongoing attacks, including The major escalation over the past week that targeted commercial ships, with missiles, small boats, and kidnapping attempts. We reiterate the following and warn the Houthis of further attacks:

The ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable and deeply destabilizing. There is no legal justification for deliberately targeting civilian shipping and warships. Attacks on ships, including commercial vessels, using drones, small boats and missiles, including the first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such vessels, constitute a direct threat to freedom of navigation, which is the foundation of global trade in one of the most important Waterways in the world.

These attacks threaten the lives of innocent people from all over the world and constitute a major international problem that requires collective action.

About 15% of the world's maritime trade passes through the Red Sea, including 8% of the world's grain trade, 12% of the world's seaborne oil and 8% of the world's liquefied natural gas trade. International shipping companies continue to divert their ships around the Cape of Good Hope, adding significant cost and weeks of delay to the delivery of goods, and ultimately jeopardizing the movement of vital food, fuel and humanitarian aid around the world.

Let's make our message clear now: we call for an immediate end to these unlawful attacks and the release of illegally detained ships and crews. The Houthis will bear responsibility for the consequences if they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and the free flow of trade in the region’s vital waterways.

We remain committed to the rules-based international order and are determined to hold malicious actors accountable for illegal takeovers and attacks.