An extraordinary meeting was held of transport ministers from the seven major G7 countries, and a ministerial declaration was compiled strongly condemning the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, which has repeatedly attacked ships around the Red Sea.
An extraordinary meeting of G7 transport ministers was held online from 9:00 pm Japan time on the 20th, with Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Saito attending from Japan, and a ministerial declaration was compiled.
It strongly condemns attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on civilian ships sailing around the Red Sea, saying they violate international law and threaten freedom of navigation.
Furthermore, since the start of the Houthi attacks, shipping companies have diverted their ships to the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, which has not only disrupted global supply chains and increased freight costs, but also created a greenhouse for ships. It has been pointed out that this increases gas emissions and has a negative impact on climate change.
The ministerial declaration calls for the release of the ship and crew operated by NYK Line, which was hijacked by the Houthis in November last year.
As the situation worsens, with major Japanese shipping companies canceling all sailings around the Red Sea due to attacks by the Houthis, the move emphasizes the importance of a united G7 response.