Speculative geopolitical memo linking Yemen's Houthi control to Iranian influence and global oil chokepoints

Yemen in crisis: a new global choke-point? -13 percent of world’s oil travels through Gulf of Aden as it travels up through Suez Canal — almost all of it heading to Europe. - Almost 8 percent of all world trade via shipping goes through Suez Canal. - Iran is seen to be trying to build a “Shia Crescent.” - lran sees/fears being encircled by “Sunni Crescent.” - If Yemen falls completely to Houthi tribal control — de facto, becoming an lranian satellite — what threat does it pose to Saudi Arabia? - Question: will a nuclear deal with lran empower them regionally? Or will it further spur the Sunni nations to increase their defense efforts? Deutsche Bank Francis J. Kelly Global Public Affairs [email protected] sae o g qT iGuilt Lp o o Mashhad oe 3 Esfahan ss Afg! ulpauel Iran | _ United Arab Saudi Arabia —_*, Emirates ‘, ; o aan a 4, Muscat Yemen: Iran ‘ &) Backing the Djibo be Gulf of Awen Houthi rebels arab Ethiopia aN Somalia’s Al Shabab Somalia 17 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026811