January 3, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
“Recognizing the broad consensus expressed by 44 countries around the world on 19 December 2023 and the UN Security Council statement of 1 December 2023 condemning the Houthi attacks on commercial ships transiting the Red Sea. , continued attacks, including a significant escalation over the past week targeting missile-laden merchant vessels, small vessels, and attempted hijackings.
“We hereby reiterate the following and warn the Houthis against further attacks.
“Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable and seriously destabilizing. There is no legal justification for deliberately targeting civilian or naval vessels. Attacks on ships, including civilian ships, using unmanned aerial vehicles, small vessels, and missiles, including the first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such ships, are a direct threat to freedom of navigation, the foundation of global trade. It is one of the most important waterways in the world.
“These attacks threaten innocent lives around the world and are a serious international issue that requires collective action. Almost 15% of the world’s maritime trade transits through the Red Sea; These include 8% of global grain trade, 12% of seaborne oil trade, and 8% of global liquefied natural gas trade. International shipping companies continue to reroute ships around the Cape of Good Hope. This is adding significant costs and weeks of delays to the delivery of goods, ultimately putting at risk the movement of critical food, fuel and humanitarian aid around the world.
“Let us now make our message clear: We call for an immediate end to these unlawful attacks and the release of the vessels and crews illegally detained. If we continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free trade in our waterways, we will bear the consequences. We will continue to uphold the international rules-based order and defend malicious actors against illegal seizures and attacks. We are determined to hold them accountable.”