The United States has quietly expanded its Jenkins rear base in Saudi Arabia. The facility sits just 32 kilometres from the Red Sea coast.
Since late 2023, Houthi attacks have disrupted over 190 commercial vessels navigating these waters. Container shipping plunged by 90% between December 2023 and February 2024.
During the past year, Suez Canal transits dropped from 2,068 to 877 vessels within eleven months. The U.S. military stations 2,321 troops across Saudi Arabia today.
Shipping Security Drives Base Expansion Plans
Since November 2023, Yemen’s Houthis have targeted vessels transiting between Europe and Asia. Red Sea shipping connects roughly 15% of global trade through the Suez Canal.
Western naval operations have failed to secure these waterways fully.
Operation Prosperity Guardian launched in December 2023 but struggles to keep pace with evolving threats. The Jenkins base expansion serves as a logical response.
Ground-based support enhances naval patrols already operating in the region.
Strategic Positioning Offers Multiple Benefits
Beyond maritime protection, the expanded Red Sea base provides geographic advantages. Saudi Arabia’s western coastline offers direct access to African shipping routes heading northbound for the Mediterranean and the Americas.
The facility supports contingency planning for broader regional conflicts.
Should tensions with Iran escalate, rear bases like Jenkins become valuable staging areas. Forward positioning reduces response times during crises.
Regional partnerships also benefit from expanded cooperation.
Saudi naval forces operate from nearby Jeddah's Al-Qadima military port.
Joint training exercises become more feasible with American personnel stationed locally. Military cooperation strengthens as personnel work side by side.
Economic Stakes Warrant Military Investment
Commercial shipping through the Red Sea carries enormous economic weight.
European manufacturers depend on Asian supply chains transiting these waters. Energy exports from Gulf states flow through the same corridors.
After the crisis began, rising insurance costs already affect global trade. Freight rates surge when alternative routes around Africa add weeks to journey times. Economic stability requires secure sea lanes without question.
Maritime chokepoints like the Bab el-Mandeb Strait cannot remain vulnerable. The narrow passage between Yemen and Djibouti controls access to the Red Sea entirely. Trade depends on open waterways.
Regional Militarisation Raises Valid Concerns
Some observers worry about escalating military buildups across the region.
Expanded American presence might provoke rather than deter hostile actions. Regional powers could interpret base expansion as aggressive positioning.
Iranian-backed groups often cite Western military presence as justification for their activities. Diplomatic solutions might prove more effective than military deterrence. Engaging Yemen’s various factions through negotiation could reduce shipping threats more sustainably.
Nevertheless, past diplomatic efforts have yielded limited results. The current approach deserves fair assessment before abandoning military components.
Military Presence Remains Necessary for Stability
However, diplomatic engagement requires credible backing to succeed.
Shipping companies need immediate protection while longer-term solutions develop. The Houthis have shown little willingness to negotiate shipping access.
Recent statements threaten continued attacks on American vessels. Military deterrence complements rather than replaces diplomatic efforts. Regional allies specifically request American support for maritime security.
Saudi Arabia willingly hosts expanded facilities because shared interests align naturally. Modern threats require modern responses. Pirates cannot disappear through wishful thinking.
Waterway Protection Demands Comprehensive Strategy
Throughout the region, the expanded U.S. base in Saudi Arabia should focus primarily on maritime security rather than broader regional confrontation.
Clear mission parameters help avoid scope creep. International cooperation enhances legitimacy and effectiveness.
European nations benefit from Red Sea security and should contribute more resources. Asian trading partners also have stakes in these shipping lanes. Technology solutions deserve equal attention alongside military presence.
Advanced surveillance systems can track threats more efficiently than traditional patrols. Coordinated response protocols reduce reaction times when incidents occur. Regional economic development offers another avenue for reducing tensions.
Yemen’s population suffers from years of conflict and economic collapse. Targeted development assistance could undermine support for militant groups. Economic opportunities matter.
The Jenkins base expansion represents practical recognition that global commerce requires protected sea lanes.
Rather than entrenching a southern front, the facility should anchor broader maritime security cooperation between allies who share common interests in keeping trade flowing safely across the Red Sea’s strategic waterways.
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