Saudi plea to the European Union to secure its oil through the Red Sea

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia knocked on the European door to secure the continued export of its oil via the Red Sea. This comes amid growing fears of a Yemeni decision to close it.

Exclusive – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:

Saudi Arabia is hosting an anticipated meeting today at the level of Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and their counterparts in the European Union. The meeting is being held remotely.

Media sources reported that Saudi Arabia seeks through the meeting to discuss European insurance for oil ships across the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia had decided to move oil export lines from the Gulf to the Yanbu port on the Red Sea amidst an international crisis in the energy market.

The Saudi decision was met with Yemeni rejection, as elites affiliated with the Ansar Allah movement called for the closure of Bab Al-Mandeb, the most important shipping lanes, as part of solidarity with Iran.

It is noteworthy that Western countries such as France, Italy, and Greece have announced their intention to strengthen their forces in the Red Sea with the arrival of reinforcements, led by an aircraft carrier, to the Mediterranean.

Western reports indicated that European countries might raise the invoice for insuring the passage of Saudi oil ships through the Red Sea.

The European Union already deploys a military mission in the Red Sea known as “Aspides,” but since last year its missions have remained defensive and within coordination operations with Sana’a.

Several European countries have rejected American pressure to engage in the war on Iran, including attempts to keep the Red Sea open as the last artery for Europe’s energy supply in light of the closure of Hormuz.