Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, the Houthis have launched attacks on merchant vessels, disrupting global trade and raising crucial questions about maritime law. This week, Elisa sits down with Professor Magne Frostad of UiT the Arctic University of Norway to explore the legal frameworks that govern maritime security, the impact of these attacks on global supply chains, and the role of international bodies like the UN and ICC.

Magne Frostad is Professor of Law at the Faculty of Law at UiT The Arctic University of Norway:

References:

Frostad, Magne. “Houthi Attacks on Merchant Vessels in the Red Sea.” Lieber Institute West Point, 10 June 2024

Frostad, Magne. Jus in Bello after September 11, 2001: The Relationship between Jus Ad Bellum and Jus in Bello and the Requirements for Status as Prisoner of War. Nomos, 2005.

United Nations Charter, Article 51

UN 1988 Treaty on Unlawful Conduct on the Sea

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982)

United Nations, Oceans and the Law of the Sea (Overview)

The "Letter of Marque" in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 11)

1988 Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention