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Italy is prepared to enhance its involvement in the EU's naval mission to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea, but contingent upon other European nations committing to augmenting their participation, Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto revealed in an interview with The National in Rome. Additionally, Italy has responded to Saudi Arabia's call for aid during the war, dispatching radars, anti-missile batteries, and other resources to assist the nation in thwarting Iranian assaults and later those perpetrated by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recently stated that the EU's Aspides mission would require an increase to over 10 warships. This week, Kallas disclosed that two countries expressed interest in dispatching vessels to the Red Sea to counteract Houthi strikes. "We have been one of the countries that believed in the Aspides mission from the very beginning, and one of the few countries in Europe that, from the outset, deployed ships to the Aspides mission," Crosetto elaborated.

"We have done so by consistently maintaining one ship in the mission. We are also willing to augment our contribution, but only when we observe the same commitment from the rest of Europe to augment its presence." As of now, only Italy, Greece, and occasionally France have contributed. The Aspides mission, established in 2024, aims to protect shipping from Houthi attacks, with six warships currently deployed.

Kallas has been urging countries to pledge greater commitment to the mission, emphasizing that the vessels must possess modern technology and speed necessary to achieve their objectives. This issue has become urgent for the EU following the Houthis' advances on Yemen's Red Sea coast and the subsequent attacks on Saudi energy facilities and ships, prompting concerns about potential disruptions to fuel supplies.

Saudi Arabia has depended on its Red Sea export route through Yanbu to circumvent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, with crude loadings at the port nearing capacity levels in July. The Bab Al Mandeb strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is a vital component of the route linking Asian trade with Europe via the Suez Canal.

Approximately 40% of Italy's international trade traverses the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Crosetto called for a more prominent European role in preserving stability in the two Middle East straits, asserting that disruptions to them jeopardize Arab economies and European industry. "Given that the crisis that first emerged in Hormuz and now in Bab Al Mandeb is causing significant difficulties for European economies and consequently for European citizens, I believe Europe should assume a far greater role than it has thus far in striving to achieve peace," he asserted.

"I have consistently advocated for a larger European role, and I hope this can be realized beyond Operation Aspides." Rome initially deployed two minehunters and maintained them in Djibouti for several months, awaiting a suitable opportunity to employ them in the Strait of Hormuz. However, they were returned to Italy as there were no operational opportunities to utilize them.

Crosetto noted that the crisis has reinforced Italy's enduring relationship with the Gulf, describing it as one of sustained cooperation. He added that Italy's support for Gulf states throughout the Middle East conflict, encompassing military assistance following Iran's attacks on regional nations, further underscored the strength of those ties.

Since March, Italy has provided air-defense and radar systems and is bolstering military relations with several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. "In particular with the UAE, significant military and industrial cooperation initiatives have been initiated in recent months, which can only be further strengthened once the conflict concludes," Crosetto remarked.