EU struggles to ramp up Red Sea mission as Houthis escalate attacks
The EU and Italy are pushing member states to bolster the Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea, but only two more warships have been pledged, exposing Europe’s thin defence capabilities as the Houthis threaten energy supply routes.
The European Union's naval mission in the Red Sea, known as Aspides, faces challenges in recruiting reinforcements as the Houthis intensify their attacks. Only the Netherlands and Belgium have pledged one additional vessel each, falling short of the ten ships required to effectively secure the Red Sea. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas expressed hope that more ships would join the mission, emphasizing the need for a credible security presence in the region.
The mission, launched in February 2024, has successfully escorted numerous vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint for energy supplies. However, recent Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, including an attack on Riyadh's international airport, have resulted in 14 deaths and over 300 injuries. Italy has been leading efforts to bolster Aspides, offering additional naval and air assets, but other EU countries have been hesitant to commit more resources.
Italy, Greece, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium are currently contributing varying numbers of operational warships to the mission. Despite recent commitments from some member states, experts warn that the EU's defense capabilities are insufficient to maintain open maritime routes, particularly in light of growing security threats from Russia.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
