In a noteworthy international legal development, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently adopted resolution 2722, calling for an immediate cessation of Houthi assaults on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. This response was instigated by the Houthi rebels’ frequent attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023, purportedly conveying support for Gaza amid heightened conflict in the region. The rebels also expressed their intent to strike vessels associated with Israel.
The resolution, sponsored by both the US and Japan, passed with 11 affirmative votes and four abstentions from Russia, China, Algeria, and Mozambique, with zero opposing votes. It called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Japanese-operated Galaxy Leader along with its crew, seized on November 19. It further urged caution and restraint, in order to prevent escalated tensions in the Red Sea region.
However, the resolution’s adoption was not without friction. Russia proposed three amendments, including the addition of the war in Gaza as the rationale behind the Houthi assaults. These edits were vetoed by the UK and the US, which led Russia to express regret on the fact that their proposed amendments were not adopted. Russia argued that the current resolution wording could potentially legitimize the actions of the US-led coalition in the Red Sea, also warning it may signify a misconceived entitlement for states to guard their ships.
China also expressed concern indicating that the text of the resolution remains “ambiguous on several key issues” and raised doubts regarding the effectiveness of the resolution. On the other hand, the US released a statement applauding the UNSC’s action against the Houthi attacks.
It is important to note that the scale of these attacks on maritime commerce has wider implications for global trade, especially in the context of oil shipments through the Red Sea, which is a critical global trade route. Following the seizure of the vessel Galaxy Leader — alleged to be linked to Israel — many shipping firms opted to withdraw their vessels from the region, causing an added burden of longer and costlier trade routes, such as the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.
For their part, Israel denied any association with the seized ship and placed responsibility for the attacks on Iran. Meanwhile, the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on an individual and three currency exchange groups for supposedly financing the Houthi attacks. Following this, the US also announced the deployment of a multinational force, under Operation Prosperity Guardian, to safeguard trade in the Red Sea through routine patrols.