Not Just the Houthis: The Battle for Bab el-Mandeb Could Reshape the Global Economy | Amir Noy

An opinion column by Col. (res.) Amir Noy examines the struggle over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as a central arena in a broader global economic conflict. The article argues that the interests of the US, Saudi Arabia, China, and India in the strait are not only security-related but also concern control over trade and energy routes. The author suggests that Israel could transform from a security partner into a strategic partner in shaping the new economic order.

An opinion column by Col. (res.) Amir Noy examines the struggle over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as a central arena in a broader global economic conflict. The author argues that while Israel views the fight against the Houthis and other fronts (Gaza, Lebanon, Samaria) as separate security fronts, the great powers see them as part of a struggle for control over energy and trade routes. The article presents the Houthis as threatening the Bab el-Mandeb bottleneck, putting Saudi Arabia in a position where oil production capacity does not guarantee export capability. The author analyzes the American strategy, arguing that the US is not rushing to directly attack the Houthis, but is managing the crisis while leveraging its global military power as an asset against China and India. He suggests that Israel could transform from a security hub into a partner in shaping the economic architecture of the Middle East, through ports, gas, cyber, and artificial intelligence.