Iran-backed Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea are raising questions about regional intervention and global energy security. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain strategic defense partnerships, though experts suggest there are limits to Pakistan’s capacity or willingness to directly oppose the Houthi forces in the region.
The attacks come amid broader maritime disruptions affecting Asia’s energy access. Beyond the Red Sea blockade, shipping through other critical Middle Eastern waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, has faced closures, leaving limited open routes for gulf oil exports to reach Asian markets.
Asian governments including Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines are experiencing significant energy supply pressures as a result of these multiple maritime disruptions. Officials across the region are working to address what some describe as a second major energy crisis in six months, as alternative shipping routes become increasingly constrained and energy costs face upward pressure.
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