WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s decision to launch “Operation Prosperity Guardian” in an effort to counter continued Houthi aggression on international commerce and the United States Navy in the Red Sea:

“How much longer can we tolerate these attacks without a proper response? What exactly would a task force accomplish? Until the Biden administration takes clear steps toward restoring deterrence, nothing will change in the Red Sea,” Senator Wicker said. “The continuing threat posed to American sailors and freedom of navigation could soon lead to a catastrophe unless the Biden administration acts with the resolve that it has so far sorely lacked. We cannot let terrorists dictate the flow of global trade in the world’s largest shipping lane.”

“I call on the Biden administration to give our regional commanders the freedom of action they require to ensure that continued Houthi aggression stops once and for all.”

KEY FACTS:

• Several international shipping firms, including British Petroleum, Maersk, MSC, CMA, CGM Group, and Hapag-Lloyd, have halted all routes through the Red Sea because of recent attacks on commercial vessels.

• Over the weekend, USS Carney shot down another 14 projectiles launched by the Houthis, bringing the total intercepted by the one guided-missile destroyer to 36.

• As early as December 4, former U.S. Fifth Fleet Commander, VADM (ret). John Miller told Politico “we’re not deterring anybody right now,” in response to ongoing attacks.