As of: January 21, 2024, 9:32 a.m
By: Stephan Israel
Comments
Press
Split
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gave the impetus for a naval mission.
© Nicolas Landemard / Le Pictorium/Imago
The planned EU naval mission for the Red Sea cleared its first hurdle in Brussels this week.
However, the European operation to secure maritime traffic against attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels is unlikely to start until the end of February.
It should now work on the second attempt: This week, the EU ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreed in principle to a proposal from Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell for a naval mission in the Red Sea.
No member state has opposed Europe's contribution to securing maritime transport from attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, diplomats said.
Spain blocked a first attempt in December.
However, the naval mission will hardly be able to start before the end of February.
The mission is not formally on the agenda at the meeting of foreign ministers on Monday, but is likely to be a topic as part of the discussion on the situation in the Middle East.
After the general approval, the details of the mission now have to be worked out, diplomats said.
Specifically, the mandate and area of operation as well as the location of the headquarters and the question of the necessary “assets”.
How to get the Table.Media newsletter
This analysis is available
to IPPEN.MEDIA
as part of a cooperation with
Security.Table Professional Briefing
- it was first published by
Security.Table
on January 19, 2024.
Get 30 days free access to further exclusive information from the Table.Media Professional Briefings - the crucial thing for those making decisions in business, science, politics, administration and NGOs.
USA and Great Britain already present in the Red Sea
The federal government is ready to take part in the mission, said Sebastian Fischer, spokesman for the Foreign Office.
We are talking about the frigate “Hessen”, which could set off for the Red Sea at the beginning of February.
Before the Bundeswehr can take part in the mission, however, the approval of the Bundestag is required.
The aim is for the foreign ministers of the member states to be able to formally decide on the start of the mission at the meeting on February 19th.
The EU must do its part to guarantee safe passage for commercial shipping in the Red Sea, warned this week MEP Hannah Neumann, chairwoman of the delegation for relations with the Arabian Peninsula.
The German Green Party criticized the EU Parliament for taking the member states so long.
The USA, together with Great Britain, have long been present with their Operation Prosperity Guardian mission, although some EU states recently saw their reservations confirmed in view of the precision attacks by US and British forces on Houthi weapons depots and drone launch pads.
EU deployment builds on surveillance operation “Agenor”.
Actually, the case should also be clear to the Europeans.
The trade route via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea is of strategic importance for Europe's economy.
In a first attempt, foreign affairs representative Borrell proposed in December to build on the Spanish-led EU anti-piracy mission Atalanta and to expand its mandate to include protection against Houthi rebels.
My news
“If word gets around”: Turkish community warns of consequences of naturalization reforms
Russia is probably planning new tactics in the Ukraine war: despite historical failures
Fuss about Baerbock's alleged luxury watch: husband revealed the model - it's that cheap
Read how farmers make fun of Ricarda Lang with a bad poster
New survey slap for Scholz: SPD halved - Wagenknecht party read for the first time
“Mood is gloomy”: Times billing for Germany’s traffic light coalition reading
This would have allowed the mission to start quickly.
However, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez opposed it out of consideration for his left-wing coalition partners, who are critical of any closeness to Washington in the Gaza conflict.
At the second attempt, Spain practiced “constructive abstention,” diplomats said.
According to Josep Borrell's new proposal, the operation would now build on another naval mission in the region, namely Agenor, a French-led surveillance operation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for the transport of oil.
No proactive strikes against military targets
The operation has been supported by a “coalition of the willing” from nine countries, including Germany, since 2020 following attacks on oil tankers.
The European External Action Service's proposal calls for at least three frigates for the new mission.
Airplanes, helicopters and drones for aerial surveillance are also planned.
Agenor would expand its area of operations to the Red Sea under its current or possibly new name “Aspis”, as reported by Spiegel, among others, but its headquarters would remain in Abu Dhabi as before.
In addition to Germany, Sweden, among others, has also signaled that it will participate with a frigate.
The armed forces have been asked to examine the possibilities for Swedish support, according to the Defense Ministry in Stockholm.
Italy, France and Greece already have warships present in the region.
It is unclear whether the naval mission is only allowed to escort commercial ships or, in the event of attacks, to actively fight drones or even destroy launch pads for the Houthi rebels.
Depending on the mandate, diplomats say, the necessary “assets” must also be determined.
However, proactive strikes against military targets in Yemen, as recently carried out by the USA and Great Britain, are not planned.