Billström: Important to avoid military escalation

Sweden views developments in the Red Sea very seriously, according to Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M).

“It is important to avoid a military escalation and to protect the safety of shipping and the right to free navigation. The responsibility for breaking this development lies with the Houthis. Their attacks in the Red Sea must stop,” says Billström in a written comment to TT.

He emphasizes that Sweden, the EU as well as the UN Security Council have condemned the Houthis’ attack, which has been going on for several months.

“It is worth underlining that even warships that the US and UK have sent to the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping have been subjected to direct attacks by the Houthis. In the Security Council’s resolution on January 10, the right of states to defend their ships from attack in accordance with international law was emphasized,” writes Billström.