to protect commercial ships in the red sea. countries joining the security group include the uk, france, canada, bahrain, norway and spain. it comes after the energy giant, bp, suspended its shipping operations through the red sea because cargo vessels are being attacked by houthi rebels from yemen. this is the route taken by around 12% of world shipping which then passes through the suez canal. but several major freight companies have now stopped passing through here. because of the risk. instead they are taking the much longer route all the way around africa via the cape of good hope. that adds costs and delays. here s the us defense secretary lloyd austin. these attacks are reckless, dangerous and they violate international law. we are taking action to build an international coalition to address the threat. i would remind you that this is not just a us issue, this is an international problem and it deserves an international response. joining me now is marc 0stwald, chief e
italy and spain, among others. this is notjust a us issue, this is an international problem and it deserves an international response. and that s why i m convening a meeting tomorrow, a ministerial meeting, with fellow ministers in the region and beyond, to address this threat. for more on what the shipping disruption might mean for the global economy, i m joined from washington by hung tran, a senior fellow at the atlantic council and former deputy director at the international monetary fund or imf. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. firstly, if you can explain how important this area is to global trade? important this area is to global trade ? important this area is to global trade? important this area is to ulobaltrade? , ., ., ., global trade? this area of the red sea leading global trade? this area of the red sea leading to global trade? this area of the red sea leading to the - global trade? this area of the red sea leading to the suez l red sea le
following the day s developments. are there any indications of what the us position is likely to intense negotiations continue, the united states saying they re trying to resolve outstanding issues of the council members that they fully support getting more humanitarian aid in the gaza and speaking to diplomats, the sticking points or main language in regards to hostilities and we have seen the resolutions watered down to call for a suspension of hostilities but there is a phrase and then it still refers to urgent steps to get to a sustainable cessation of hostilities there remains a sticking point. we also hear from diplomats there remains a sticking point. we also hearfrom diplomats that there remains a sticking point. we also hear from diplomats that israel is only putting pressure on the united states in regards to this proposal for un united states in regards to this proposalfor un monetary united states in regards to this proposal for un monetary mechanism. they re conc
havoc to global trade. speaking in bahrain, the us defense secretary lloyd austin said participating countries include the united kingdom, bahrain, canada, france, italy and spain, among others. this is notjust a us issue, this is an international problem and it deserves an international response. and that s why i m convening a meeting tomorrow, a ministerial meeting, with fellow ministers in the region and beyond to address this threat. for more on what the shipping disruption might mean for the global economy, i m joined from washington by hung tran, a senior fellow at the atlantic council and former deputy director at the international monetary fund. this area of the red sea leading to the suez canal is quite important in terms of the volume of trade passing through it. about 12% of global trade passes through the red sea, including 30% of the container shipping. altogether, it accounts for about us$1 trillion per year of trade, so it is quite significant, and a disruption