BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 15. Qatar has warned that the closure of the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb strait could have catastrophic consequences for global trade and energy supplies, amid growing tensions in the Red Sea region.
Qatari Foreign Ministry official Ibrahim al-Hashmi told reporters that the international community was already facing serious consequences from the months-long closure of the Strait of Hormuz and could not afford another major disruption at Bab al-Mandeb.
He said closing the southern entrance to the Red Sea would be “catastrophic for the entire world”, adding that the consequences of disruptions to major maritime routes were already becoming visible.
The warning comes amid recent gains by Yemen’s Houthi movement along parts of the Red Sea coast, raising concerns over the security of one of the world’s key maritime routes.
Al-Hashmi said Qatar was therefore pushing for diplomacy and dialogue as the preferred way to prevent further escalation and protect international shipping.
