Middle East Conflict: EU Joins US in Red Sea Security Mission
The European Union (EU) is considering strengthening its role in the Red Sea, potentially joining the US in a security mission aiming to protect merchant shipping. The proposed change to the existing anti-piracy operation, Atalanta, was recently put forward by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, according to Germany's Press Agency.
At a recent EU meeting, only Spain voiced reservations about the plan, prompting speculation of internal political issues in Madrid. The 27 EU member states are currently evaluating the proposal, with a swift formalization expected soon.
The US deployment, codenamed "Prosperity Guardian," has seen a substantial increase in international military presence in the Red Sea. The initiative comes in response to repeated attacks by Houthi rebels, who have targeted ships to stop them from reaching Israel and enforce a halt to Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Spain and Germany, along with other nations, advocate for an EU mandate to participate in the mission, allowing warships from EU states to monitor Red Sea activity and potentially accompany merchant ships with defense systems against missile threats. However, it is unlikely that proactive military operations against the Houthi rebels will be imminent.
Background
The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have been a reaction to tensions in the Gaza Strip, which escalated following a horrific terrorist attack by Islamic extremists on October 7. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground offensive, resulting in more than 1200 deaths.
While the US has drawn over 20 countries into its military alliance, people in Yemen have taken to the streets in protest against the US-led military coalition operating in the Red Sea. Thousands have demonstrated in major cities, including Sanaa, expressing their concern over the potential escalation of violence.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire as a result of the ongoing conflict, with the UN warning that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians may starve due to the ongoing Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Key Figures
- Josep Borrell: EU foreign policy chief
- Prosperity Guardian: Name of the US military deployment in the Red Sea
- Houthis: Iran-backed Houthi rebels
- Red Sea: Major maritime route for global trade
- Israel: Middle Eastern nation with Gaza Strip tensions
- UN: United Nations, multilateral organization hosting the World Food Program and ICRC
- Yemen: Location of the Houthi-controlled Sanaa
- Safe zones: Areas that Israel has designated for evacuated residents, but may not exist
Enrichment Data
As part of the EU's new mandate, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, an existing naval mission, will be extended until February 28, 2026, to safeguard commercial shipping and uphold freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The mission will gather intelligence, share data on arms trafficking, and implement defensive naval measures along key sea routes.
