Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, in a letter recently published, has called for a serious increase in the European Union's commitments to maritime security missions in the Red Sea. She pointed to the rising threats from recent attacks by the Houthi group in Yemen and proposed that the EU naval force be increased to 10 ships.
Increasing Maritime Threats
Kallas, in her letter to EU member states, has urged them to increase their contributions to the security mission "Operation Aspides." Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure and tanker traffic have led to rising global energy prices and their consequences on the European economy and the EU's shipping interests. Despite the Houthis' repeated claims that they will only target Saudi ships, they have previously attacked several vessels associated with the West and have a history of instability in targeting.
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Need for More Resources
On Monday, Kallas told reporters that the "Operation Aspides" - the EUNAVFOR security force in the Red Sea - needs "more maritime and aerial resources" to cope with the higher level of threats in the region. She emphasized that the initial plan for Aspides, designed in 2024, included a force of 10 ships, but is currently operating with only six ships, and the Houthis are now in a better position to threaten shipping. She added, "The situation seems to be even worse now."
Kallas also stressed that this request for increased EU presence in the Red Sea aligns with the messaging from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where its Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, has advised member states to undertake stronger diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety of seafarers. Dominguez told representatives of member states, "It is up to you and your capitals and the relevant UN bodies to address the root causes of [maritime security threats] and find solutions."
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