Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with his counterpart, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren to discuss the ongoing illegal Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. They both noted that these attacks violate freedom of navigation protected by international law, and threaten citizens of multiple countries.
The two leaders highlighted that the attacks are unacceptable and profoundly destabilizing to the international rules-based order. The ongoing impact of these attacks on global commerce is jeopardizing the movement of critical food, fuel, and humanitarian assistance throughout the world. Secretary Austin noted that these attacks constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action.
