Weekly Column
King’s Lynn has a proud history as a maritime trading town and today the Port continues to play an important role in our local economy. As a trading nation around 95 per cent of all UK imports and exports are moved by sea. Therefore the UK has a special responsibility to help ensure global commercial shipping flows freely. That’s why it was necessary to take military action last week against Houthi militia who have carried out dozens of illegal attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Why does this matter to us? The importance of this shipping route cannot be overstated. 12 per cent of global trade passes through the Red Sea representing £1 trillion worth of goods. Due to the risk of attack, containers and tankers are taking a 5,000 mile detour which risks a damaging impact of higher costs on our economy and the world economy. If this disruption continues it could push up prices facing all of us just as inflation has more than halved. It could drive up fuel costs at the pumps just as they have fallen to the levels they were prior to Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. It also puts at risk the goods, foods, and medicines which we rely on.
Alongside the United States, with support from Australia, Canada, and others, the RAF targeted and struck two Houthi military facilities which were launch sites for drones and missiles. This is not action the UK and our allies wanted to take in a volatile region. Instead we sought to resolve this situation through diplomacy. Two weeks ago, a coalition of countries gave the Houthis a clear warning that if attacks on shipping continued then action would be taken. The UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning Houthi attacks and underlining the right of nation as to defend their vessels and freedom of navigation.
Yet the attacks continued so acting in self-defence was necessary and legitimate to protect lives and shipping. In doing so care was taken to minimise risks to civilians. Was there an alternative? Well, not acting in the face of these attacks is a decision that would weaken international security and send a message that the UK and our allies would do nothing.
Unsurprisingly the Houthis, backed by Iran who provided weaponry and funding to them, seek to claim this is linked to the terrible situation in Gaza. It isn’t - ships from many nations have been targeted. The UK urgently wants a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and to get much more aid to get to people who so desperately need it.
From my three years as an adviser to the then Defence Secretary when we joined the global coalition against Daesh terrorists in Iraq and Syria in 2014 and 2015, I understand the seriousness of ordering such military action. Such decisions are not taken lightly and pursuing diplomacy first was the right approach.
While everyone wants these limited and targeted strikes to deter future attacks on shipping, the Houthi track record is not encouraging. Further action is, based on my experience of their malign activities, likely to be necessary to demonstrate our resolve.
First published in Lynn News, 19 January 2024
