MADRID: Spain has decided not to participate in a potential European Union naval mission aimed at safeguarding Red Sea shipping from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, said Defense Minister Margarita Robles.
She stated that Spain is already engaged in 17 missions and, if the EU decides on a new mission, Spain won’t be part of it in the Red Sea.
The EU is contemplating a naval mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea following Houthi attacks, with discussions set to take place in Brussels next week. The proposal aims to complement the existing US-led coalition in the region.
Margarita Robles said that “Spain’s position on this subject has always been clear”.
The details of the mission’s size and scope are yet to be determined.
Spain had previously blocked a plan to expand the EU’s “Atalanta” mission, which focused on protecting shipping off Somalia.
The decision not to participate was reportedly influenced by domestic politics, and Spanish media suggests it may be linked to the country’s coalition government’s stance on US foreign policy.
The Huothis have escalated attacks on shipping they perceive as linked to Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza.
