The Houthis have given Russia and China a guarantee that their ships can pass safely through the Red Sea.
They came to the agreement following talks in Oman between representatives from the two countries and Mohammed Abdel Salam, a top Houthi official, according to a report by Bloomberg.
In exchange, Russia and China will provide the Yemeni militia political support in international forums such as the United Nations Security Council, the newswire said, citing several people close to the talks.
It was widely speculated that vessels with Russian and Chinese links were given a pass through the key waterway, en route to the Suez Canal, as the Houthis’ attacks on commercial shipping intensified late last year.
The report said it was probably a sign that Moscow and Beijing were looking for reassurances as the Houthis continue their attacks, including the deadly missile strike on the 50,500-dwt True Confidence (built 2011) this month.
The Houthis initially targeted ships with direct links to Israel, but that expanded to include ships with connections to countries deemed friendly to Israel as the militants ostensibly attempted to force aid into Gaza.
Several owners have decided to stay away from the region as long as the attacks continue or until militaries can provide security guarantees.
Still, automatic identification system data shows several dozen ships going both ways through the waters around the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the 32 km chokepoint separating the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden.
There are far more Chinese ships than Russian ones. Many, regardless of nationality, are using their AIS systems to try to dissuade the Houthis from attacking.
Two Chinese bulkers, the 17,400-dwt Delong (built 2001) and 56,900-dwt Fei Run (built 2011), are broadcasting that their crews are all Chinese.
Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi 56,950-dwt Aleena 1 (built 2010) notes that its crew is completely Muslim, while the Greek-linked 76,600-dwt Pictor (built 2002) implies that its crew is Indonesian and it has armed guards on board.
The 105,800-dwt NS Commander (built 2006), one of two Russian vessels in the area, is noting that there are armed guards on board.
