Saudi Arabia Rejoins the Battle for Bab Al-Mandeb

Saudi Arabia joined, on Sunday, the race to control the most important shipping lanes in the Gulf.

Exclusive – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:

Saudi Arabia announced the signing of an agreement with Djibouti, through which it acquires its most important port on the opposite shore of Bab Al-Mandeb, known as “Tadjoura.”

Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia will take control of the most important port for the next three decades.

Saudi Arabia’s move came amidst a frantic race to control the Yemeni islands and coasts overlooking the important maritime passage, highlighted by the establishment of Emirati, Israeli, and American bases there, the most recent being on Zuqur Island.

It is unclear whether the Saudi move aims to secure a foothold on the most important passage in the Al-Mandeb within a new influence struggle or to block any forces outside the framework of the US-led coalition in the Red Sea.

However, it comes in the context of a broad campaign aimed at controlling the ports stretching from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden all the way to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, where the US is pushing to grant “Somaliland” separation in exchange for bases being built on its coastal strip along the Gulf of Aden.

What raises concerns for the entire Arab national security is the push by some parties to enable Ethiopia to have a presence at Bab Al-Mandeb with a port in “Somaliland,” which is like driving another nail in the side of Egypt, which is absent from the scene.