By William Freer and Charlotte Kleberg*
Over the past year, sustained targeting of commercial shipping in the Red Sea – a vital maritime corridor – has shattered the illusion of safe and timely sea transport, Britain’s World reports. The continued detention of the MV Galaxy Leader and its crew by Houthi forces, following their seizure over a year ago, is a stark reminder of the inability of free and open countries to resolve the crisis. The failure to establish the level of sea control needed to secure trade raises important questions as to the effectiveness of naval protection, future approaches, and most importantly, how navies that are already stretched thin, ought to balance preparing for peer conflict with safeguarding shipping.
