The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenwarned today that the war in Gaza Strip could be extendedeasily” in middle East and asked to focus efforts on ensuring that the conflict “do not expand” since it is about “a matter of global concern”.
“This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and suffering. From day one, we have been intensely focused on working to prevent the conflict from spreading“Blinken said at a press conference from Dohawithin the framework of a new tour of middle East.
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Three months after the start of the war in Loophe October 7the American stated that “This is a moment of deep tension in the region”, precisely the concern that has motivated him to make his fourth visit to the Middle East since the outbreak of the conflict.
In this sense, he indicated that Qatar and USA share the commitment to use their “influence, relationships and links“with different parts”to avoid escalation and deter new fronts” of war, since “It is not just a regional issue, but an issue of global concern”.
Blinken, who avoided the exchange of fire between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and attacks by pro-Iran Iraqi militias against US positions in Iraq and in Syriafocused his speech against the Houthi rebels of the Yemen and their attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea.
The American alleged that these attacks are “directly affecting citizens, cargo and commercial interests of more than 40 countries”, while he assured that they caused the interruption or diversion of almost 20% of global maritime transport.
Likewise, he denounced that more than a dozen shipping companies have been forced to divert “thousands of ships” via Cape of Good Hopedespite the fact that this represents delays and increases transportation costs.
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“These Houthi attacks are harming people around the world, especially the poor and vulnerable populations, including in Yemen and Gaza“said Blinken, who thus defended the international naval alliance led by USA in the Red Sea to confront these actions.
“We will continue to defend maritime security in the region as part of our overall effort to deter and prevent”said the American.
For his part, the Qatari Foreign Minister, Mohamed bin Abderrahmancondemned the Houthi attacks, which he described as “unacceptable” and recalled that from the beginning of the war in Gaza has warned of a possible spread of the conflict, which is why it urged “work together” to prevent it.
