Saudi Arabia has reportedly begun transporting its crude oil using tankers sailing under the Pakistani flag, in what appears to be an effort to reduce the risk of attacks on its energy shipments amid ongoing tensions in the Red Sea.
According to a Reuters report, at least two Pakistan-flagged oil tankers carrying Saudi crude successfully transited the Red Sea and passed through the Bab al-Mandab Strait within the past 72 hours without incident.
The move comes as Yemen’s Houthi movement has continued to threaten or target vessels linked to Saudi interests. Reuters reported that, unlike Saudi-flagged or Saudi-associated vessels, ships sailing under the Pakistani flag have not been subjected to Houthi action during the current period of heightened maritime insecurity.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serving as a vital route for global oil and commercial shipping. Any disruption in the area has the potential to affect international energy markets and global trade.
Neither Saudi Arabia nor Pakistan has publicly commented on the reported change in shipping arrangements. Likewise, the Houthis have not officially addressed the reported passage of the Pakistan-flagged tankers.
If confirmed, the use of Pakistan-flagged vessels would represent a notable adjustment in Saudi Arabia’s maritime logistics, highlighting the increasing challenges facing commercial shipping in the Red Sea as regional security tensions continue.