The new European military mission in the Red Sea, which Italy is promoting with France and Germany, would be “a significant step towards a true European defence”, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday after presenting his plan at an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Anadolu Agency reported.
At the end of discussions, the foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany gave a preliminary green light to the proposed Red Sea mission aimed at protecting shipping from Yemeni Houthi attacks, Tajani said. Final approval is expected at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council, he added. In an interview with reporters, the Italian minister said:
“We are proposing, along with France and Germany, a mission that can guarantee the safety of maritime traffic.”
He stressed that the new operation would expand the Emasoh/Agenor mission already in place in the Strait of Hormuz, entailing the use of military force, but only for defencive purposes.
Tajani said Italy’s parliament would be informed of the new mission, but it would not require a new parliamentary vote of approval. He added:
“Italy is ready to do its part.”
Since November, Iranian-backed Houthis have carried out dozens of attacks on ships travelling through waterways leading to Egypt’s Suez Canal, a vital route for energy and cargo travelling from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Houthi representatives say they only attack Israeli-flagged or Israeli-affiliated vessels.
