Putin's reckless alliance with the Houthis is not an act of defiance, but a desperate cry for the West to finally put him out of his misery—one missile at a time. In plain English, aligning with the Houthis is Putin's loudest declaration yet that he is out of strategic ideas, and the West should gladly take this as his invitation for a crushing response.
The
enemy of my enemy is not always my friend—especially when that enemy is busy
making mistakes that offer a golden opportunity to topple them. Vladimir Putin,
perhaps in his most desperate gambit yet, has decided to put his hand in the
troubled waters of the Red Sea. By siding with the Iran-backed Houthis, a group
notorious for targeting key shipping lanes and threatening regional stability,
Putin is unwittingly sending a gift to the West—an opportunity to bring him
down once and for all.
The
news of Putin's frustrations over President Biden's recent authorization for
Ukraine to strike inside Russia using U.S.-supplied long-range missiles is
spreading quickly, and for good reason. This bold move by Biden is likely
driving Putin's fresh alliance with the Houthis, a group that has already been
on shaky ground with the international community. The Houthis, for years, have
had a reputation for their missile and drone attacks, often targeting Saudi
Arabia and threatening international shipping routes crucial to the global
economy. Now, with Putin openly offering support, Russia is taking its
chaos-exporting playbook to new waters—literally.
It
is hard not to see the irony: Putin, who frequently scolds Western countries
for meddling in affairs beyond their borders, has plunged headfirst into a
regional conflict that could have consequences beyond the Red Sea. By aligning
himself with the Houthis, he is not only inviting a confrontation with Western
powers but also committing a strategic blunder that might be his undoing. The
Red Sea, after all, is no ordinary body of water; it is a key artery for global
commerce, through which 10% of the world's trade passes. Any disruption there
doesn’t just hurt one country—it affects almost every nation, making it
everyone’s problem, especially for those who have a vested interest in free and
secure maritime routes.
The
history of the Houthis’ rise is already a troubling tale. Originating from
Yemen, the Houthi movement initially started as a group protesting
marginalization. However, over time, they became notorious for their alliances
with Iran, targeting Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles, and causing one of
the worst humanitarian crises in modern history. Adding Putin to this toxic mix
does not just worsen an already tragic conflict; it turns the Red Sea into a
geopolitical tinderbox ready to ignite. It might have been a calculated move
for Putin, a way to get back at Biden and the West, but it's also a misstep
that gives Western leaders a legitimate reason to take collective action
against Russia's interference.
A
proverb comes to mind here: "When digging a pit for your enemy, be careful
not to fall into it yourself." Putin, by enabling the Houthis to intensify
their aggression, is essentially digging his own geopolitical grave. By placing
Russia’s weight behind the Houthis, he is risking further isolation from the
international community, which has already had enough of his adventures in
Ukraine. For Putin, who has continuously tried to project himself as a
strategic genius, this move reveals something else: a reckless abandon that
seems to suggest he is running out of ideas—and out of allies.
The
Red Sea is also strategically vital for the United States and its allies,
including European powers and regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
These countries cannot afford to let Putin and the Houthis destabilize such a
crucial maritime route. Western nations, already on edge due to the war in
Ukraine, now face a challenge in the Red Sea that directly affects global trade
and energy supplies. With Putin essentially pushing his chips into the Middle
Eastern pot, he may have underestimated just how serious the response might be.
President
Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory is a
game-changer. It not only escalates the conflict but also reveals the extent to
which the United States is willing to go to support Ukraine and pressure
Russia. Frustrated by these developments, Putin’s alliance with the Houthis
reeks of desperation—a dangerous, unpredictable move by a leader with limited
options. While the Kremlin may see this as a way to spread Western resources
thin, it could easily backfire. This reckless act gives the United States and
its allies a prime opportunity to finally "fix" the Putin problem.
By
threatening the safety of the Red Sea, Putin is essentially begging for a
unified Western response. If merchant ships come under fire, if global trade is
disrupted, or if oil tankers are threatened, the justification for collective
action will be there on a silver platter. Already, U.S. naval forces are
increasing their presence in the region, while allies are considering measures
to ensure the Houthis’ aggression is contained. Putin might have hoped to use
the Houthis as a tool for leverage, but in reality, he has provided the West
with the perfect rationale to increase pressure on Russia—not just
economically, but militarily if needed.
The
West has made mistakes before, often missing critical opportunities to act
decisively against authoritarian leaders. However, this is not the time to be
indecisive. Putin's actions in the Red Sea are not just another instance of
meddling; they are a direct attack on the very principles that keep global
trade and diplomacy functioning. If Western nations let this slide, they would
essentially be signaling that Putin can do whatever he wants without facing
consequences. On the other hand, taking decisive action now—whether by
providing even more advanced weaponry to Ukraine, imposing tougher sanctions on
Russia, or increasing military patrols in the Red Sea—could mark the beginning
of the end for Putin's long reign of chaos.
One
cannot help but think of other strongmen in history who overstayed their
welcome on the world stage—leaders who thought they were invincible until they
weren't. Whether it was Napoleon overextending his campaigns or Saddam Hussein
provoking the ire of a global coalition, the pattern is clear: overreach leads
to downfall. Putin’s involvement with the Houthis may well be his moment of
overreach. He is giving the West every reason they need to come together and
act, and this time, they should not miss the chance.
Putin
may not know it, but by helping the Houthis lob missiles at merchant ships in
the Red Sea, he is indeed digging his grave. He is giving the West a golden
opportunity to nail him—to ensure that his brand of reckless adventurism is
finally brought to an end. And America, alongside its allies, must see this as
the final solution to the Russia problem. For years, the West has been playing
catch-up, reacting to Putin’s moves rather than anticipating them. But now,
with Putin’s latest gamble in the Red Sea, it’s time to change the script.
A
desperate man does desperate things, and Putin's support for the Houthis is
exactly that—a desperate move by a leader running out of cards to play. The
world has seen this story before, and it rarely ends well for those who believe
they can defy international norms indefinitely. If Putin thinks that aligning
with a group of militants will somehow keep him in power, he might want to
revisit his history books—or better yet, read his own obituary draft, written
not by his friends, but by his own hand, one Houthi missile at a time.
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