EU foreign ministers officially launched the EU Red Sea mission on 19 February, hoping to deter Houthi attacks on merchant ships and avoid any escalation in the region, according to Euractiv.
The Red Sea mission, dubbed EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, is a “maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis,” the Council stated.
Discussions about the operation began in December after Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea, endangering international trade vessels travelling through the Suez Canal and causing prices to rise as ships had to divert their routes.
In an attempt to avoid regional escalation over the Strait combined with the conflict in the Gaza Strip and deter future attacks, the US and UK have responded to the Houthi attacks with missiles.
In an attempt to avoid regional escalation over the Strait combined with the conflict in the Gaza Strip and deter future attacks, the US and UK have responded to the Houthi attacks with missiles.
The European naval force will work as an additional deterrent and defensive operation alongside the US Operation Prosperity Guardian with a one-year mandate and a budget of 8 million euros. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared:
Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working alongside our international partners. Beyond crisis response, it’s a step towards a stronger European presence at sea to protect our European interests.
ASPIDES will “accompany vessels in the area of operation” and “ensure maritime situational awareness”. The operation will also be entitled to respond to attacks in a defensive manner, as it will “protect vessels against multi-domain attacks at sea, in full respect of international law, including the principles of necessity and proportionality, in a sub-area of the Area of Operation.”
“We operate fully aligned with UN Security Council resolution 2272, where Houthis are demanded to cease all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and It notes the right to defend vessels against such attacks, that is in line with international law.”
However, at this point, it is still unclear when the mission will be fully operational, with all assets in the zone and ready to fulfil its mandate accordingly.
We hope to be able to be fully operational in a few weeks.
Several EU member states have already expressed interest in joining the military operation. Greece will set up headquarters in the coastal town of Larissa, with Italian Rear Admiral Stefano Costantino as commander.
Since the operation is based on the existing French Agenor/Emasoh mission in the Gulf of Oman, Paris is likely to join.
EU Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell was authorised to exchange “classified information relevant to the purposes of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES up to ‘SECRET UE/EU SECRET’ level, where such exchange at theatre level is necessary for operational reasons.”
Other countries, such as any “willing States contributing to maritime security in its Area of Operation,” could also be potential partners of the European operation.
