Houthi control of Bab al-Mandeb forces EU to confront supply chain risks

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas signaled the gravity of the situation in a letter to foreign and defense ministers on September 19. She noted that the group’s hold on the narrow passage creates a direct hazard to maritime security, with consequences rippling into European supply chains. With fuel prices already volatile, the potential for further disruptions to this vital transit route complicates the bloc's ability to sustain its domestic economies.

Beyond the immediate economic fallout, the Houthi advances threaten to deepen diplomatic fractures across the Horn of Africa. While the Strait of Hormuz remains the primary global chokepoint, the tighter geography of the Bab al-Mandeb route increases the vulnerability of commercial vessels. The shift in regional power dynamics forces EU leadership to re-evaluate its security posture in a theater that has largely drifted to the periphery of its strategic planning.