Spain will not join US-led Red Sea coalition

Spain said on Sunday that it will not join a US-led coalition to safeguard Red Sea ships from Huthi rebels in Yemen. Several strikes against Red Sea vessels have been carried out by the Iran-backed Huthis in support of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The Pentagon said on Thursday that 20 countries had joined the alliance led by Washington to secure the vital shipping corridor. Spain’s government has been ambiguous, and a spokeswoman for the military ministry told AFP on Sunday that Spain “will not participate.” While no rationale was offered, the Spanish press reported on Sunday that the decision was motivated by local politics. Pedro Sanchez is in the process of putting together a coalition and needs the support of the radical left party Sumar, which opposes US foreign policy. The Huthis welcomed Spain’s stance, with deputy foreign minister Hussein al-Ezzi saying “we highly appreciate Spain’s refusal to be drawn into American and British lies on the issue of maritime navigation”. Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said on Thursday that coalition forces would “serve as a highway patrol of sorts, patrolling the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to respond to – and assist as necessary – commercial vessels that are transiting this vital international waterway”.