Pakistan on Wednesday unequivocally condemned the recent threats by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, according to the Foreign Office.
Islamabad’s statement follows the Houthi rebels’ declaration of an immediate maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, marking a new front in the Middle East conflict.
The naval blockade, if implemented, could block access to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports, which are essential for oil exports, especially as renewed US‑Iran fighting restricts movement through the Strait of Hormuz. It remains uncertain how the Houthis would enforce such a blockade.
“Threats to commercial shipping and trade with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are unacceptable and breach established principles of international law,” the Foreign Office said, reiterating continued Houthi threats.
Islamabad expressed particular concern over reports that the Houthis are threatening vessels engaged in lawful commercial trade with Saudi Arabia.
“Such actions jeopardize regional security, undermine freedom of navigation, challenge the rules‑based maritime order, and endanger the uninterrupted flow of global commerce,” the Foreign Office highlighted.
Furthermore, it declared that “any hostile act against Pakistani‑flagged vessels or Pakistani maritime interests will be regarded as a grave threat to Pakistan’s national security and sovereign interests”.
The Foreign Office warned that Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary measures, including lawful use of force in self‑defence, to protect its maritime assets and national interests, consistent with the United Nations Charter and international law.
Pakistan also expressed deep concern over attempts to draw Saudi Arabia into the broader Middle East conflict, as fighting continues between the United States and Iran, which has targeted American military sites in several Gulf states.
Islamabad reaffirmed its unwavering support for the security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“While remaining steadfast in its commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and regional de‑escalation, Pakistan urges all parties to respect international law and ensure the safety and security of international maritime shipping,” the Foreign Office statement affirmed.
The Houthis’ Monday announcement followed last week’s first exchange of fire between the group and Saudi Arabia in years, raising concerns that the 2022 truce could collapse.
After Houthi missiles struck Saudi Arabia on July 13, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the “blatant attacks” against the kingdom, though he did not provide further details.
Islamabad also supported Riyadh at an emergency UN Security Council briefing on Yemen, urging all concerned parties to resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy.
Under the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” signed in September 2025, any attack on either Pakistan or Saudi Arabia will be treated as an act of aggression against both nations.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defence and security cooperation for decades, and this partnership remains a cornerstone of Islamabad’s regional diplomacy.
In early March, Pakistan invoked the defence pact through diplomatic channels to help deter heavier Iranian strikes against Saudi Arabia.
The Bab al-Mandeb threat
Although the method by which the Houthis would enforce such a blockade remains uncertain, their threats have heightened concerns about maritime security and energy shipping in the Red Sea.
On Tuesday, three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude destined for China and India turned back in the Red Sea, steering toward the Suez Canal rather than proceeding along the Yemeni coast at the sea’s mouth, Reuters reported.
The Houthis have previously sought to disrupt Red Sea shipping by exploiting the Bab al‑Mandeb strait, a narrow chokepoint at its southern tip that vessels must cross when traveling to or from the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean.
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu has been vital for oil exports, allowing the kingdom to bypass Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz during its conflict with the United States.
Crude oil exports from Saudi Arabia fell for a third consecutive month in May, reaching a record low of 3.434 million barrels per day, according to data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI), with US‑Iran tensions disrupting Gulf shipments.
Exports dropped from 3.986 million barrels per day in April to about 3.434 million barrels per day in May.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would “take care of” the Houthis if they proceeded with the threat to blockade Saudi Arabia’s ports.
