Red Sea
EU states have reached a political agreement in principle to launch a military operation to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said this on Monday night after a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels. According to diplomats, the ideal is for the operation to begin next month and put an end to attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
01/22/2024 6:46 pm
Online since today, 6:46 pm
The militant Islamic militia wants to use ship bombing to force an end to Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which followed the unprecedented Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7.
Warships are dispatched
Under current plans, the EU operation will involve sending European warships and airborne early warning systems to the region to protect cargo ships. However, participation in US strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen is not planned.
Given the dangers, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This is now having a significant impact on the global economy. The US and Britain have recently proactively attacked Houthi targets in Yemen.
Expansion of “Atalanta” mandate failed
The EU had originally planned to extend the mandate of the existing anti-piracy operation “Atalanta” in the Indian Ocean to operations in the Red Sea. However, this plan failed due to resistance from Spain, which is currently the lead nation in Operation Atalanta.
The reason for the veto was a dispute within the Spanish government coalition over the country's participation in military operations in the Red Sea. Leftists, in particular, are sympathetic to the desire to persuade Israel to stop military operations in the Gaza Strip.
US military cargo ship attacked
Meanwhile, Houthi rebels said they attacked a US military cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. It was “Ocean Jazz”. There are no further details. A militia spokesman announced that it would continue to respond with retaliation to any type of “American or British aggression.”