Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III conducted a call today with his United Kingdom counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps. The two leaders discussed the ongoing threat to civilians and global shipping posed by illegal attacks by Houthis on vessels in the vicinity of the Red Sea.
Both Secretaries highlighted the importance of the Red Sea as a vital artery for global commerce. They both noted that the scale and frequency of these attacks constitute a significant international problem that must be addressed.