The European Union is making a move in the field of maritime security in the Red Sea. The Foreign Ministers of the Twenty-Seven have today given the green light to the naval surveillance and patrol mission in the region, the target of attacks by the Houthi rebels, with the support of Iran, against any ship that presumes ties with Israel. The mission, in which Spain will not participate, will be called ‘Aspides’, which in Greek means shield. Unlike the ‘Prosperity Guardian’ mission launched by the United States and the United Kingdom, its mandate stipulates that it will be purely defensive in nature and will not preemptively attack Houthi positions, as they do.
The project has been launched in just one month. France, Germany, Italy and Greece will contribute a total of four frigates to the device, which will also have an air patrol provided by Rome. The mission will be based in the Hellenic city of Larissa and will be commanded by Vice Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, diplomatic sources have advanced, with Rome taking charge of maritime operational command. Its mission will be to escort merchant ships crossing the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea. If they come under drone or missile attacks, European warships will be able to respond but not attack the Houthi rebels’ ground positions in Yemen.
“I appreciate today’s decision to launch Operation Aspides. Europe will guarantee freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working together with our international partners,” said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a message at the social network X launched by his team even before the ministers took the decision. The mission “represents a step towards a stronger European presence at sea to protect our European interests,” celebrated the German conservative, visiting Berlin today to participate in the meeting of her party, the Christian Democrats CDU, and announce her wish to be head of the EPP list for the elections to the European Parliament.
The British Navy today warned of a new attack against a ship off the coast of Yemen, the second in the last 24 hours. “The ship and crew are safe and well and are proceeding to the next port of call. Authorities are investigating,” the British Navy said. The details of the ship are unknown and the Houthi rebels have not claimed responsibility for the action.
On Sunday, the Houthis attacked a British-owned, Belize-flagged ship, which is anchored and at risk of sinking in the Gulf of Aden, the insurgents’ military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, explained on Monday.
Military activity in the area has led some of the traffic that uses the Suez Canal to take alternative routes such as the one that circles the African continent through the Cape of Good Hope. This option increases the prices of transported products, and although its effects on inflation have not yet been significantly felt, it does threaten Western economies.
