Houthis and the Red Sea Crisis: Legal, Geopolitical and Commercial Implications

Since November 2023, Yemen’s Houthi militia have carried out more than 50 attacks against ships in the Red Sea, killing three seafarers and injuring more. What started as an ideological move calling for an end to the war in Gaza has now been causing major disruptions to global commercial shipping. At the same time, Houthis do not hesitate to attack warships further escalating the tension in the region. The US and the UK have launched joint naval and air strikes against the Houthis, while the EU launched the EUNAVFOR Operation Aspides in response to their ongoing attacks on shipping. The presence of naval operations may deter attacks but also risks further militarization of the region. 

The ongoing crisis in the Red Sea is of extreme relevance to Greece, as attacks take place in one of the busiest commercial routes worldwide. Lloyd’s List reported that 17% of the ships tracked passing Bab el Mandeb between 4-17 of March 2024 is of Greek ownership, while Greece has taken a leading role in the EUNAVFOR Operation Aspides by assuming the onshore command of the operation.

It thus important to carefully consider the critical legal, geopolitical and commercial questions that have arisen from this fast-developing crisis. This event will bring together experts from academia, the shipping industry and naval forces as well as policy makers who will approach key questions from different perspectives aiming to provide a holistic account of the current situation in the Red Sea.