Huthirebellernas sjöförnekelse i Röda havet och Adenviken : En analys utifrån Milan Vegos teori

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines how the Houthi movement achieved sea denial in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden despite limited resources. Using Milan Vego’s theory of sea denial as an analytical framework, the study applies a qualitative document analysis of open-source material. The analysis shows that the Houthi rebels achieved partial sea denial by combining land-based missiles, drones, geographic advantages and repeated attacks against commercial shipping. Their actions reduced maritime traffic throughout the Bab el-Mandeb and forced most of the maritime traffic to reroute around Africa. Furthermore, it forced the coalition forces to adopt a defensive and reactive strategy in the area around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The study concludes that sea denial is no longer dependent on a conventional fleet and can be achieved by a non-state actor through asymmetric and cost-effective methods. This thesis contributes to a broader understanding of how modern maritime threats can affect global trade, military operations and future naval strategy.