KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has expressed deep concern over threats by the Houthis to restrict or close passage through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, warning that any disruption could affect global trade, energy security and supply chains.
In a statement, Wisma Putra said the strait was an indispensable artery for international commerce connecting Asia and Europe, with any interference likely to have consequences far beyond the region.
“As a trading nation whose economic vitality and national prosperity rely heavily on open, safe, and unhindered international maritime commerce, Malaysia reiterates that any disruption to vital global shipping chokepoints poses a direct and unacceptable threat to the stability of international supply chains, energy security, and global economic recovery,” it said.
The ministry stressed that all parties must uphold the freedom of navigation and maintain the safety of commercial sea lanes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Malaysia also urged restraint amid heightened tensions in West Asia, warning against provocative actions or threats targeting maritime transit.
“Lasting stability can only be achieved through constructive dialogue, diplomacy, and a strict adherence to the rules-based international order,” it said.
“The Ministry Foreign Affairs will continue to closely monitor the security situation in the region through its diplomatic missions abroad and advises all Malaysian-registered vessels and shipping operators to maintain high vigilance and adhere to updated maritime security advisories.”
The warning comes after the Houthis reportedly issued a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, cautioning shipping companies against loading or unloading cargo at Saudi-linked ports in Yemen.
The group warned that vessels violating the directive could face sanctions or become targets within the operational range of Yemeni forces.
The move has raised concerns over further disruptions to Red Sea shipping, which has yet to fully recover following Houthi attacks on commercial vessels that began in November 2023.
Two Saudi crude oil tankers reportedly changed course in the Red Sea after the warnings, avoiding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait before heading towards the Suez Canal.
The strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, remains one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints for global trade and energy shipments.
Meanwhile, the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), led by the US Navy, said no attacks on vessels crossing the Red Sea had been confirmed in the previous 48 hours. – July 22, 2026