President Al-Zubaidi Discusses with Norway Deputy FM Repercussions of Houthi Escalation on International Shipping Lanes

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), met on Thursday at his residence in New York, the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister HE Andreas Kravik.

"The meeting discussed the latest developments in the political and humanitarian situation in the country in light of the Houthi escalation in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden against international shipping lanes, and the ramifications of these acts on exacerbating the dire humanitarian and service-related situation.

In this regard, President al-Zubaidi confirmed that "the Houthi escalation in international shipping lanes constitutes systematic piracy and terrorism that has no connection to the Palestinian cause." His excellency further characterized it as "an Iranian plot to blackmail the region and the world in service of its expansionist agenda in the region."

President Al-Zubaidi highlighted the grave situation in light of the Houthi militia's continued destabilization of the region, noting that available intelligence indicates coordination between the Houthi militia and al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, which necessitates a comprehensive local, regional, and international strategy to counter the systemic plot being implemented by the militias at the behest of Iran.

For his part, the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister affirmed Norway's support for the efforts that have been exerted by the regional and international community to end the conflict in the country and safeguard international shipping lanes.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Amr Al-Beidh, member of the STC's Presidium and Special Representative of the President of the STC for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Imad Mohammed, director of the office of the Vice President of the PLC.