U.S. and Pakistan condemn Houthi naval blockade against Saudi Arabia; Islamabad warns of self-defense

On July 22, 2026, the United States and Pakistan separately condemned Houthi threats to commercial shipping after the group announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed Iran for the escalation. Pakistan, which signed a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia in September 2025, warned that it reserves the right to use lawful force in self-defense to protect its maritime assets and national interests. Ship-tracking data indicated that multiple vessels altered course or appeared to make U-turns following the Houthi warnings, while the threatened blockade raised risks for Saudi oil exports routed through the Red Sea.

Houthi blockade on Saudi Arabia

• ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed Iran for the Houthi naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.
• ▪The Houthis said the maritime embargo was imposed in response to what they described as a Saudi blockade and a recent strike on Sanaa International Airport.
• ▪Yemen's Houthi rebels announced a naval blockade and maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia at the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Pakistan condemns Houthi threats

• ▪Pakistan's Foreign Ministry unequivocally condemned the Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea on July 22, 2026.
• ▪Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry separately condemned the Houthi naval blockade, warning of serious global economic consequences from Red Sea disruptions.

Pakistan self-defense warning

• ▪Pakistan warned that any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or maritime interests will be treated as a grave threat to its national security.
• ▪Pakistan declared it reserves the right to take all necessary measures, including the lawful use of force in self-defense, to protect its maritime assets.

Pakistan-Saudi defense pact

• ▪Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are bound by a mutual defense pact signed in September 2025 that treats an attack on either nation as an attack on both.
• ▪Pakistan previously invoked its defense pact with Saudi Arabia in March 2026 to help deter Iranian strikes against the kingdom.

Red Sea shipping disruption

• ▪Ship-tracking data indicated that multiple tankers and another commercial vessel altered course or appeared to make U-turns following the Houthi warnings.

Saudi oil export concerns

• ▪Saudi crude oil exports fell for a third consecutive month in May 2026 to a record low of 3.434 million barrels per day.
• ▪Saudi Arabia has relied on a pipeline to the Red Sea to export oil as the Strait of Hormuz has been fully or partially closed since the war began on February 28, 2026.