BRUSSELS: The European Union on Monday officially launched a mission to help protect global shipping in the Red Sea from strikes by Yemen’s Houthis, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced.
The European Commission president wrote on X that Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working alongside its international partners.
The Houthis have been attacking the key shipping lane since November in a campaign in solidarity with Palestinian people in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli bombardment.
An EU official said on Friday that the bloc wanted to have the mission named Aspides, Greek for the shield, up and running in a “few weeks” with at least four ships, according to AFP.
The EU official said that the overall commander will be Greek, while the lead officer in operational control will be Italian.
Antonio Tajani, the Italian top diplomat, confirmed the launch during a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, calling it an important step towards common European defense. So far, Germany, Italy, France, and Belgium have said they plan to contribute vessels.
The EU said the mission’s mandate — set initially for one year — is only limited to safeguarding civilian shipping in the sea and that no attacks will be carried out “on Yemeni soil.”
US Presence in Red Sea
The US is already spearheading its own naval coalition in the region and has launched attacks on the Houthis in Yemen along with Britain.
