#maritime-security

Ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Red Sea are testing international naval coalitions and disrupting global trade, with significant consequences for Canada. The deployment of Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown to the region highlights the country's military commitment to securing vital maritime corridors. Meanwhile, Canadian businesses face rising shipping costs and supply chain delays as vessels are forced to reroute around Africa. The crisis underscores the vulnerability of global trade arteries and strains the resources of the Royal Canadian Navy amid growing geopolitical instability worldwide.

Tensions in the South China Sea have reached a boiling point as Chinese vessels repeatedly use aggressive tactics against Philippine ships in disputed waters. These actions defy a 2016 international ruling and directly challenge the rules-based order. For Canada, the escalating conflict is a critical test of its Indo-Pacific Strategy, which commits to upholding international law and ensuring regional stability. Ottawa has condemned Beijing's behaviour and deployed naval assets to the region, but the crisis forces Canada to navigate complex diplomatic, security, and economic pressures in a volatile global flashpoint.