American Magazine: Houthi Attacks Push the U.S. to Allocate One-Third of Its Aircraft Carrier Fleet to the Red Sea

NYN | Reports and analyses

The American magazine The National Interest reported that the continuous attacks by the Houthis against ships linked to “Israel” in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have compelled the United States to allocate one-third of its aircraft carrier fleet to address the increasing threats in the region.

In a report authored by Samuel Byers, Senior National Security Advisor at the Center for Maritime Strategy, the magazine explained that the United States faces a significant challenge in providing a “proportional response” to the Houthi threats in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, especially as the blockade they imposed on the Bab al-Mandab Strait enters its ninth month.

The magazine noted that Washington has relocated the aircraft carriers *Roosevelt* and *Lincoln* from the Pacific to the region, joining the carriers *Ford* and *Eisenhower* in an attempt to “stop the bleeding from an open wound.” This move elevates the strategic importance of the Bab al-Mandab Strait to a level comparable to other critical theaters of operation such as the North Atlantic, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean, necessitating the U.S. Navy to maintain a continuous aircraft carrier presence in the area around the clock.

The report criticized the U.S. administration’s decision to spend $1 billion on rare munitions to counter Houthi missile and drone attacks instead of addressing the root causes of the problem, which has increased the pressure on the already strained U.S. fleet.

According to the magazine, the White House and the Department of Defense have effectively established a new “Aden Station,” further stressing the U.S. fleet, which is already under significant pressure.

The magazine raised questions about whether the Houthi threat to 14% of global maritime trade passing through the Red Sea justifies dedicating one-third of the U.S. aircraft carrier force on a nearly permanent basis. It also questioned whether spending scarce munitions, needed by the Navy for deterrence in a potential conflict with China, is a strategically sound choice, suggesting that the U.S. response has not been proportionate to its strategic interests.

The report concluded by stating that “despite all the efforts the United States is making to combat the Houthi threat, the Bab al-Mandab Strait remains extremely dangerous,” noting that the Biden administration’s strategy has proven inadequate in addressing this threat. It called on the next U.S. administration to adopt more effective strategies to protect American interests in the Red Sea.