EU launches Red Sea mission ‘Aspides’ to protect vessels from Houthi attacks

EU foreign ministers on Monday (19 February) officially launched the EU mission in the Red Sea they hope to be a deterrent against Houthis attack against merchant vessels and avoid any escalation in the region.

The Red Sea mission named EUNAVFOR ASPIDES will work as a "maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis", the Council’s decision establishing it reads.

Discussions on the operation started in December after the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi militia attacked merchant vessels in the Red Sea, putting international trade ships going through the Suez Canal at risk and prompting rising prices, as ships have had to re-route around Cape Horn along the coast of South Africa.

In an attempt to avoid a regional escalation from the strait in combination with the conflict in Gaza and deter future attacks, the United States and the United Kingdom responded to the Houthis’ attacks with missiles.

The European naval force will work as an additional deterrent and defensive operation alongside the US Operation Prosperity Guardian, with a one-year mandate and a budget of €8 million.

"Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working alongside our international partners," Europea Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on social media X.

Defensive mandate

"Beyond crisis response, it's a step towards a stronger European presence at sea to protect our European interests," von der Leyen also said.

ASPIDES will work around three tasks, its mandate reads: "accompany vessels in the area of operation", and "ensure maritime situational awareness". 

The operation will also be entitled to respond to attacks in a defensive manner, as it will "protect vessels against multi-domain attacks at sea, in full respect of international law, including the principles of necessity and proportionality, in a sub-area of the Area of Operation" to be defined by the member states.

"We operate fully aligned with UN Security Council resolution 2272, where Houthis are demanded to cease all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and It notes the right to defend vessels against such attacks, that is in line with international law," one EU senior diplomat explained.

The operation will be focused in a large zone, where it "shall contribute to maritime security along the main sea lines of communication", comprising the Baab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. 

It is for now however still unclear when the mission will be fully operational, with all assets in the zone and ready to fulfill its mandate accordingly.

"We hope to be able to be fully operational in a few weeks," one EU senior diplomat said, as the EU diplomatic service waits on the member states to pledge assets.

Several EU member states have already flagged their interest in joining the military operation. 

Greece will house the headquarters in the coastal town of Larissa, and most likely send ships, and the Force Commander will be Italian Rear Admiral Stefano Costantino. 

Since the operation is based on the existing French mission Agenor/Emasoh in the Gulf of Oman, Paris is also likely to join.

Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany have also said they would participate.

Cooperation with the US

As the US is leading its own operation in the area, the EU will work closely with Washington on the matter, according to its mandate.

The EU top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has been granted permission to exchange "classified information relevant to the purposes of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES up to ‘SECRET UE/EU SECRET’ level, where such exchange at theatre level is necessary for operational reasons" with Operation Prosperity Guardian and with the US-led Combined Maritime Forces gathering around 40 countries.

Other countries such as any "willing States contributing to maritime security in its Area of Operation" would also be potential partners of the European's operation.

[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald]