Qatar Warns Bab Al-Mandab Closure Could Have Catastrophic Global Impact

Qatar has warned that any disruption to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key maritime gateway to the Red Sea, could have catastrophic consequences for the global economy as regional tensions continue to threaten vital shipping routes. Qatari Foreign Ministry official Ibrahim al-Hashmi said the world was already facing serious consequences from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and could not afford another major maritime route to be affected. He stressed that a closure of the Bab al-Mandab, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, would add further pressure to global trade and supply chains.

“The world is suffering enough with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, so we cannot also afford to add the Bab al-Mandab into that equation,” al-Hashmi told reporters, according to Al Jazeera. He described a potential closure of the southern entrance to the Red Sea as catastrophic for the entire world and said Qatar was advocating diplomacy and dialogue to contain the wider crisis.

The warning comes amid reports of possible disruption to navigation through the Bab al-Mandab following recent Houthi advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast. Qatar has also condemned what it described as Houthi attacks targeting civilian infrastructure and populations in Saudi Arabia. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said ballistic missiles and drones targeted Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, causing civilian injuries and damage to homes and vehicles.

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Qatar described the attacks as a violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and international law and reiterated its solidarity with Riyadh. It also affirmed Saudi Arabia's right to take measures to protect its sovereignty and security. Any prolonged disruption in the Bab al-Mandab could have wider implications for maritime traffic and countries dependent on the Red Sea shipping route.

The potential consequences are also being discussed at a meeting of foreign ministers from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Djibouti. The meeting is expected to examine the security, humanitarian and economic impact of developments around the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, particularly on countries bordering the waterway. Djiboutian authorities have warned that continued hostilities could also lead to increased migrant arrivals across the Bab al-Mandab, placing additional pressure on the country's resources and increasing the need for regional and international assistance.

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