Red Sea: French aircraft carrier CMA-CGM once again bypasses the Suez Canal in the face of attacks

French shipping giant CMA-CGM has finally given up. Unlike other international companies, the Marseille-based shipowner did not abandon the transit of its container ships through the Suez Canal throughout January, braving potential attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

But this Friday, CMA-CGM decided, like Denmark’s Maersk, to bypass Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, which will extend the journey by about two weeks. The “decision” will be kept “until further notice” to “not take any risks,” a source close to the matter told AFP.

In the context of the Gaza war, Houthi rebels close to Iran, who control much of Yemen, have increased attacks on ships they believe are linked to Israel since November.

Like other shipowners, CMA-CGM interrupted transit through the Red Sea on 16 December and then resumed it on 27 December. But unlike others, the French shipowner continued to operate throughout January, despite several attacks in the area.

In January, Paris sent a third warship to the Red Sea. The frigate Alsace “responds to monitor attacks on merchant ships. This is a contribution to all initiatives in the region, such as Prosperity Guardian, named after the United States-led coalition in the Red Sea to protect freedom of maritime movement, a spokesman for the headquarters said.

Continuous attacks

On Thursday, the US military shot down another drone off the coast of Yemen and destroyed an unmanned surface drone laden with explosives in the Red Sea. THAT US military command in the Middle East (Centcom) also announced that Houthi rebels fired two missiles, potentially targeting but not hitting the cargo ship.

According to the IMF, maritime container traffic through the Red Sea has fallen by almost 30% year on year. According to the EU, before the conflict, between 12 and 15% of global traffic passed through this axis.