Saudi Workaround for Exporting Oil from Red Sea

 CNBC published on 12 August 2026 an article titled "Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Oil Exports Through Mediterranean Pipeline to Avoid Attacks in Red Sea" by Spencer Kimball and Deena Zaidi.

Following the Iranian-supported Houthi blockade of Saudi ships passing through the south end of the Red Sea, Riyadh is rerouting oil supertankers north through the Suez Canal even for oil destined for Asia.

The problem is that fully loaded supertankers sit too deep in the water to transit the Suez Canal.  Consequently, they pump half the Saudi oil cargo into a pipeline on Egypt's Red Sea coast that conveys it across Egypt to an outlet in the Mediterranean Sea.  The supertankers then transit the Suez Canal half loaded and reload the oil at the other end of the pipeline in the Mediterranean.  Saudi oil exports departing the south end of the Red Sea are down 90 percent.

Because of the Houthi blockade, a higher percentage of Saudi oil is now going north to Europe rather than south to Asia.  This may result in a boon for West African oil by making transport to Asia more competitive than oil originating in Saudi Arabia. 

An Analysis of the Houthi Red Sea Blockade

 Chatham House published on 24 July 2026 an analysis titled "The Houthi Red Sea Blockade: Will Collective Maritime Security Be Defended or Break Down?" by Nitya Labh and Farea Al-Muslimi.

The rebel Houthis are part of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" but retain significant autonomy.  The Houthi blockade of Saudi ships in the Red Sea acts as a deterrent against regional adversaries and reinforces their legitimacy in Yemen.

The Houthi objective is not to sink large numbers of ships, but to create enough uncertainty for commercial shipping that insurers raise premiums, companies reroute vessels, and governments absorb mounting economic costs.

Saudi Arabia Creates Red Sea Task Force

 AEIs Critical Threats Africa File posted on 6 August 2026 an article titled "Red Sea" by Michael DeAngelo and Liam Karr.

Saudi Arabia announced on 30 July the formation of a Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance to protect shipping in the Red Sea and adjacent waterways following the Bab el-Mandeb Strait blockade of Saudi ships by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.  So far, 14 nations have joined the task force.  

Background of Houthis' Red Sea Blockade

 Pakistan's South Asian Chronicle published on 1 August 2026 an article titled "Houthi Red Sea Crisis."

This is a nice summary of the background of the Houthi blockade of the Red Sea and relations with Saudi Arabia.  

Two Chinese-operated Supertankers Negotiate Houthi Blockade

 Marine Radar posted on 24 July 2026 an article titled "Two Chinese Supertankers Exit Red Sea Despite Houthi Blockade."

Two Chinese-operated supertankers chartered by COSCO transported Saudi oil safely through the south end of the Red Sea in spite of the Houthi blockade.  They carried about 4 million gallons of Saudi crude for destinations in China.  The Houthis have not targeted Chinese-operated tankers.  

Impact of Houthi Blockade in Red Sea

 AEIs Critical Threats posted on 23 July 2026 an analysis titled "Houthi Blockade in the Red Sea" by Michael DeAngelo, Liam Karr, and Alexsandar Wiebler.

The Iranian-backed Houthi blockade of the south end of the Red Sea has already disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, causing increased costs and transit delays.  The Houthi blockade will further increase fuel shortages, negatively impact African countries that rely on Saudi fuel shipments, and strain the global economy.  

Houthi Threat to the Red Sea

 The Council on Foreign Relations published on 20 July 2026 a background piece titled "Another Hormuz? What to Know About the Houthi Threat to the Red Sea" by Diana Roy.

The Yemen-based and Iranian-backed Houthis' decision to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia opens a new front in the U.S.-Iran war and threatens to choke off the Red Sea's 20-mile-wide Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with potentially major consequences for the global economy.

Iran War Moves to Houthis and Red Sea

 Al-Monitor published on 20 July 2026 an article titled "As Houthis Declare Red Sea Blockade on Saudi Arabia, Oil Markets Brace for Impact" by Jack Dutton.  

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on 20 July that it was imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, as the regional war widens to threaten another key route for global oil supplies following disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.  Because of the problems in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has redirected much of its crude exports by pipeline through its Red Sea terminal at Yanbu.  

Ships sailing north of Yanbu for Europe through the Suez Canal will not be impacted by this Houthi action.  Those headed south for Asia through the Bab el-Mandeb choke point will be impacted and the Saudis may put at risk a large percentage of current crude exports.  If the Houthis successfully prevent the Saudis from passing through Bab el-Mandeb, global supplies could fall by as much as 7 percent.  

Will US Blockade of Hormuz Stir Houthi Response in Red Sea?

 The Independent published on 14 April 2026 an article titled "What Is the 'Gate of Tears'? Key Shipping Route that Could Be Attacked by Houthis and Disrupt Global Economy" by Bryony Gooch and Harry Cockburn.

The authors speculate on the possibility of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis attacking international shipping in the Red Sea following a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

Is a Tigray Region-Eritrea Alliance in the Cards?

 Ethiopia Insight published on 20 August 2025 a commentary titled "Strategic Reversals: Abiy's Miscalculation and the Tigray-Eritrea Realignment" by Yonas Nigussie, political economist.

The author argues that Tigray Region, sidelined by the collapse of the Pretoria Agreement, is fighting for survival.  Eritrea, haunted by fears of Ethiopian expansionism, seeks a strategic buffer.  Internal power struggles have fractured the Tigray People's Liberation Front.  One Tigrayan faction has signaled its willingness to align with Eritrea in an unholy alliance against the federal government of Ethiopia.  This could spark another bloody civil war.

Ethiopia: Humanitarian Supplies Still Not Entering Tigray Region

 The Guardian published on 10 November 2022 an article titled "Tigray Still Without Aid Eight Days after Deal to End Ethiopia's Blockade" by Jason Burke.  

The government of Ethiopia said it is working on its commitment to deliver humanitarian assistance and services to Tigray Region.  Tigrayans are concerned, however, that its commitment may be linked to progress on disarmament by the TPLF, even though the issues were not linked in the peace deal.   

Washington Post Editorial Calls for International Pressure on Both Sides in Ethiopian Conflict

 The Washington Post published on 25 October 2022 an editorial titled "One of the World's Deadliest Conflicts Is Reaching a Tipping Point."

The civil war in Ethiopia has been marked from the outset by brutality and disregard for civilian life.  According to a Ghent University team estimate, between 385,000 and 600,000 lives have been lost.  World leaders should immediately push both sides to negotiate in good faith at the African Union-led peace talks.

Chairman of US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Calls for End of Ethiopian Conflict

 The Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, issued a statement on 15 October 2022 on the conflict in northern Ethiopia.

The Chairman called on Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed "to order his Eritrean mercenaries out of Ethiopia and lift his cruel blockade of Tigray."  He also urged the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front to commit to renewed peace talks without preconditions. 

Russian Foreign Minister Ends Africa Tour in Ethiopia

 The Voice of America published on 28 July 2022 an article titled "Lavrov Lashes Out at West on Africa Tour" by Fred Harter.  

As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tried to shift blame for Africa's grain shortages to Western sanctions because of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the US announced a $488 million drought relief package for Ethiopia.  

Russian Campaign in Africa to Shift Blame for Grain Shortages

 The New York Times published on 24 July 2022 an article titled "Russia Tells Famine-Fearing Africa It's Not to Blame for Food Shortages" by Vivian Lee, Anton Troianovski, and Abdi Latif Dahir.  

Russia is on a campaign in Africa to convince leaders that it is not responsible for grain shortages on the continent and expressed Moscow's appreciation that they have not joined Western sanctions against Russia.  The overwhelming instinct of African leaders is to remain non-aligned and stay out of the confrontation between Russia and the West.  

Russia Seeks to Justify Invasion of Ukraine in Africa

 The Associated Press published on 24 July 2022 an article titled "Russia's FM Visits Egypt, Part of African Trip Amid Ukraine War" by Samy Magdy.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is visiting Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in an effort to justify Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.  

Russia's Disinformation War Aimed at Africa

 The Atlantic published on 21 July 2022 an article titled "Russia's Hunger War" by David Patrikarakos.

Russia is directing its disinformation war at Africa where anti-Western sentiment is already strong.  Anticipating a world food crisis, Moscow is propagating the message that Western sanctions against Russia are to blame for causing food shortages and Ukraine is deliberately destroying grain supplies.  

Russia's Wagner Group Helps Blockade Libyan Oil

 Foreign Policy published on 8 July 2022 an article titled "Libya Could Be Putin's Trump Card" by Robert Uniacke.

Russia's mercenary Wagner Group is entrenched in Libya as guns for hire for Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army.  Some 2,000 Wagner Group mercenaries support Haftar's effort to control oil-rich eastern Libya.  The country claims to have 39 percent of Africa's total oil reserves.  Haftar has imposed a blockade on oil exports, which helps keep prices high to the delight of Moscow.    

Invasion of Ukraine Impacting Food Situation in Africa

 The Indian Express published on 2 July 2022 an article titled "Food Crisis Starts to Bite Africa Amid Russia-Ukraine War" by Asshi Sadana.

The author concludes that the Horn of Africa faces the most immediate threat because blocked shipments of grain coincide with a record-setting fourth year of drought.

Ukraine Wants to Export Grain to Africa

 The Voice of America posted on 24 June 2022 an article titled "Ukraine Appeals for African Support on War with Russia and Food Crisis" by Mohammed Yusuf.

Ukraine is ready to ship its grain to Africa as soon as Russia lifts its blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports and allows the grain to be shipped.