Growing International Moves to Tighten Maritime Oversight on Yemen Under the Banner of the “Maritime Security Partnership” International Coalition Restructures Oversight of Yemen’s Coastlines Under the Pretext of Combating Smuggling

NYN | Reports and Analyses 

The Steering Committee of the “Yemen Maritime Security Partnership” announced on Monday its commitment to supporting the Yemeni government’s Coast Guard forces to enable them to conduct interception and inspection operations in territorial waters—an action widely viewed as part of U.S.–British–Saudi efforts to reinforce restrictions on Hodeidah ports under the guise of “combating smuggling.”

British Ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, stated in a post on X that she hosted the committee’s inaugural meeting, which includes the European Union, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. She affirmed these countries’ commitment to “enhancing the operational capacity of the Yemeni Coast Guard and intercepting illicit flows of weapons and drugs.”

Steering Committee: Long-term Commitment and Expanded Security Partnerships

In a statement published by the British Embassy, the committee affirmed that its establishment represents a “firm commitment” to supporting the Yemen Coast Guard’s plan and securing the maritime domain in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The meeting followed the launch of the initiative last September during a conference hosted by Saudi Arabia.

The statement noted that member states pledged to support the Coast Guard in securing territorial waters, protecting international trade, and reducing irregular migration, pointing out that this support “will be coordinated directly with Yemeni entities to ensure sustainability and national ownership.”

It also mentioned expanding partnerships next year by involving regional organizations and coastal states with a direct interest in securing navigation in the Red Sea and the wider region.

Western Efforts to Legitimize Interception of Ships Bound for Hodeidah

In recent months, the United States and the United Kingdom have pushed for a UN resolution expanding Yemen-related sanctions to include the interception of vessels headed to Hodeidah ports. Although the adopted resolution did not explicitly grant such authorization, it paved the way by requesting expert recommendations on “the necessity of such measures.”

This was followed by a visit from the UK Minister for the Middle East, Hemiš Faulkner, to the Coast Guard headquarters in Aden, where he discussed the forces’ needs and spoke of ongoing coordination with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States to “enforce international law in the Red Sea,” as he put it.

Background of the Initiative: Direct Military Support and Red Sea Exercises

The “Maritime Security Partnership” initiative was launched in Saudi Arabia last September with the aim of supporting Coast Guard forces in countering what Washington describes as “Houthi activities.” Both Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom announced multi-million-dollar funding, along with the provision of equipment and gear.

For their part, the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement considered the initiative an attempt to obstruct their maritime operations in support of Gaza and “to protect Israeli shipping,” according to statements by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi at the time.

In the same context, Saudi Arabia conducted the “Red Wave 8” exercises in the Red Sea, with the participation of the Yemeni government’s naval forces. Naval Forces Commander Abdullah al-Nakhai said the drills focused on “countering Houthi threats,” while Israeli media reported that the focus was on ship inspection and interception operations.

Reports: Preparations to Intercept Ships Bound for Hodeidah on the High Seas

The Israeli agency GNS quoted officials in the Yemeni Naval Forces as saying that Saudi Arabia had instructed preparations for intercepting vessels destined for Hodeidah ports and moving UN inspections from Djibouti to the high seas—a step the agency described as “a Saudi return to maritime escalation.”

Observers believe these moves come as part of Israel’s desire to escalate against Sanaa-aligned forces, amid Israeli calls to enable “regional and local partners” to play a greater role in securing the Red Sea. This trend recently manifested in a visit by a Jerusalem Post team to southern Yemen, where they met government leaders, including the defense minister, who expressed readiness to “secure the Red Sea” in exchange for external military support.