If Europe participates in the Mandeb Strait "escort" mission, it may provoke a full-scale retaliation from the Houthi forces.
The Houthi forces have intensified their presence in the Mandeb Strait region. The Red Sea could become a strategic vulnerability for Europe, as this maritime corridor is a critical passage for undersea fiber-optic cables that underpin the continent’s digital infrastructure.
According to a report by The Sun, Dr. Ian Larrabee, a maritime security expert, warned that if EU authorities or European states persist in joining the Mandeb Strait escort operation, the Houthis might target undersea cables, potentially plunging Europe into a comprehensive crisis akin to the Stone Age.
The Houthi forces have seized several strategic islands in the Red Sea and plan to collaborate with Iran to blockade trade routes to the West. By consolidating their position in the Mandeb Strait—a globally vital maritime chokepoint—the group has further exacerbated already tense fuel markets. Their objectives extend beyond oil tankers and cargo vessels. The seabed beneath the Red Sea hosts an extensive network of fiber-optic cables through which internet traffic between Europe and Asia flows. Dr. Ian Larrabee cautioned that increased Houthi control over the region poses an existential threat to digital systems.
In an interview with The Sun, Dr. Larrabee stated: “Cables on the seafloor of the Red Sea actually carry about one-third of global internet traffic.” From processing trillions of pounds in banking systems to streaming Netflix content on Friday nights, the entirety of Britain’s online existence hangs in the balance—its lifeline passing through this narrow strait. Seventeen undersea cables cross the Red Sea, carrying approximately 90% of digital traffic between Europe and Asia. Data centers located in the Persian Gulf region rely on these cables to sustain cloud infrastructure for multinational corporations including Apple, Amazon, and Google. Despite their critical role in daily life, these cables remain remarkably vulnerable. As Dr. Larrabee noted: “To disrupt a cable—just buy a pair of wire cutters. Almost anyone can do it.”
In March 2024, a missile launched by the Houthis struck the British-flagged vessel Rubymar in the Red Sea, causing the ship to lose control and dragging its anchor across an undersea cable. This incident illustrates how even unintentional attacks on commercial vessels can jeopardize critical infrastructure. Prior disruptions to undersea cables in the Red Sea have already triggered noticeable network outages across parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In March 2024, multiple key cables were severed or damaged, affecting roughly 25% of telecommunications traffic among the three continents. Should the surrounding waters remain hazardous, repairing damaged cables would present a formidable challenge. Specialized teams must first locate the damage site, ensure their own safety, retrieve the cable from the seabed, perform repairs, and re-lay it—all under high-risk conditions.
Data from the research firm TeleGeography indicate that only around 60 vessels worldwide are engaged in laying and maintaining undersea cables, with just one-third dedicated to emergency repairs. Yet under the ongoing threat of missile and drone attacks, these crews are unable to operate effectively.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1877390495015944/
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