Guido Crosetto, Italy's Defense Minister, announced on Friday that the assistance provided to the European Union's naval mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea is still insufficient, and Italy has asked its allies to take more action in this regard.
Support for Safe Passage in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
These remarks came after Crosetto's meeting with Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, in Rome. The Italian Defense Minister welcomed the decision of some member countries to send additional equipment to the "Aspida" mission, although he did not specify the names of these countries.
Crosetto further stated that this assistance is still not sufficient to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships. He also noted that Italy had asked its allies to participate more in this mission last month and that the country is ready to send its ships to help prevent delays caused by EU decision-making.
Need to Strengthen the Naval Fleet
Kallas had announced last month that the "Aspida" mission needs more than ten warships to effectively carry out its tasks. The Aspida mission began in 2024 with the aim of protecting commercial shipping from attacks by Houthi militia groups in Yemen, which are supported by Iran. Currently, diplomats have reported that only six warships are deployed in this mission.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast, complicating navigation in the area even further. This region also includes the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has significantly decreased due to tensions between the United States and Iran.
Given the current situation, Italy and other EU member states feel the need for greater cooperation to address maritime threats and ensure the safety of shipping. This will not only benefit member countries but also global trade.
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