The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, has pushed for EU countries to increase their naval support for Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea. ASPIDES is the name of the European mission in the strategic maritime area that links the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.
The Houthi advance over the last month led them to the control of an area near the Bab al-Mandab strait.
The EU mission in the Red Sea dates to 2024. It has generally consisted of a handful of ships, some three to six vessels.
This is not currently enough for the mission, and Kallas and others want to see a larger deployment. Most reports speak of boosting the naval presence to over 10 ships.
The mission’s name comes from the ancient Greek word aspides, the plural of aspis, a type of heavy wooden shield used in ancient Greece.
A report by EuroNews noted that “the EU is considering reinforcing Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea – following Italy’s request – with ships and aircraft to protect the Bab al-Mandab Strait from attacks launched from Yemen. The passage is crucial for energy trade, as energy costs are skyrocketing across Europe.”
EuroNews added that “EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has asked EU countries to strengthen the ASPIDES mission in the Red Sea, amid increasing threats from Houthis to navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is crucial for trade routes between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.”
The proposal to make changes goes back to September 19, around eight days after the Houthis launched their new offensive.
It came after a “request by Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who raised the alarm after an Italian frigate intervened to escort an Italian merchant vessel off the coast of Yemen last Friday,” EuroNews reported.
Only two vessels belonging to EU countries were in the area and available for escort duty, Crosetto said at the time. This figure is below the complement of six that missions should have.
Kallas: Operation requires 'more suitably equipped naval and air assets'
“We need more suitably equipped naval and air assets,” Kallas said. This would enable increased close protection of vessels and allow the mission to carry out its mandate.
Six vessels are just a handful of naval units in a waterway that is exceedingly complex and has numerous ships transiting at any given time.
The maritime vessel tracking site VesselFinder identified more than 50 large ships transiting the Red Sea on Sunday, with others at ports along the route. Many were bulk carriers or oil tankers.
The EU is concerned about the Houthis conquering areas along the route, such as the town of Mocha and the island of Perim.
“More EU countries could decide to assume responsibility for a specific stretch of sea under the ASPIDES mission itself, as Italy just did to protect its merchant vessel, the report suggested.
“French and Dutch units are also already operating in the area to protect their own merchant fleets,” it said.
EU defense ministries expected to discuss issue at Monday meeting
The EU defense ministries were expected to discuss the matter on Sunday, in advance of an October 12 meeting.
EuroNews noted that the mission’s strategic command has been entrusted to Greece, with operations run by Italy and Greece. It is led by Commander of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ASPIDES R.-Adm. Vasileyos Gripari.
“We have been asking the EU for months to reinforce the ASPIDES mission: Italy and Greece are doing a great deal [...], but if there is no military contribution [from the other EU states], there must be a financial contribution,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
The push for a more robust European presence has been noted in regional media. Al-Ain media in the United Arab Emirates highlighted the push by the EU to do more in the Red Sea.