Kallas calls for strengthening EU mission in Red Sea — Jerusalem Post
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea needs more than 10 ships to protect shipping. Six warships are currently operating in the area of operation, the Jerusalem Post reports.
On the sidelines of the annual meeting of world leaders at the UN, Kallas said that when the mission was launched in 2024, the need for at least 10 ships had been assessed. According to her, the situation has now become even more serious.
Need for ships and aircraft
The Aspides mission was established to protect shipping from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, whom the publication describes as linked to Iran. Kallas said the operation makes an important contribution to regional security and global shipping, but requires additional naval and air assets due to the growing level of threats.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
She also noted that Houthi attacks affect European interests and impact the global economy. On September 19, Kallas sent a letter to the 27 EU member states asking them to increase their contributions to the operation. The issue is planned to be discussed at upcoming meetings of EU defence and foreign ministers.
Situation on maritime routes
According to the publication, the Houthis have advanced rapidly along the Red Sea coast in recent weeks, complicating routes in the region, which also includes the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic through the strait has already declined because of the war between the United States and Iran.
Italy, one of the key participants in Aspides, announced on Thursday that it was preparing its own naval mission in the area for its ships. Rome said it could not wait for the EU’s response to the new crisis.
