Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, announced on the sidelines of the annual global leaders' meeting at the United Nations that the EU's maritime mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea needs more than 10 warships. He noted that the current number of ships in the area is insufficient and must be increased.
The Aspides Mission and Existing Challenges
The Aspides mission was launched in 2024 to protect shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are aligned with Iran. Currently, six warships are active in this mission. Borrell stated, "When the Aspides mission was initiated, it was forecasted that at least 10 ships would be needed. The current situation is even worse than at that time."
In recent weeks, the Houthis have made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast, complicating shipping routes in an area that includes the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping traffic in this region has decreased due to the war between the United States and Iran.
Actions by EU Member States
Italy, one of the key countries in the Aspides mission, announced on Thursday that it is preparing a maritime mission for its ships in the area and cannot wait for the EU's response to the new crisis. Borrell also emphasized that Houthi attacks have negative effects on European interests as well as on the global economy.
He stated, "The EU's operations in Aspides help ensure security in the region and global shipping, but to cope with the high level of threats in the area, more naval and aerial assets are needed." On September 19, Borrell sent a letter to the 27 EU member states urging them to increase their contributions. He announced that this issue would be discussed in upcoming meetings of defense and foreign ministers.
Borrell reminded in his letter, "The situation that is currently changing seriously affects European interests and could have repercussions on our supply chain and impact our ability to support economies that have already been affected by rising fuel prices."
He emphasized that although the Houthis have stated they will only attack interests related to Saudi Arabia, there is uncertainty regarding their actions towards ships passing through the strait. In any case, the Houthis are now in a better position to harm maritime shipping.
