After two months of negotiations between Member States, the European Union announced on Monday February 19 its naval operation in the Red Sea, with the aim of securing maritime traffic on this essential sea route for international trade. In recent weeks, Yemeni Houthi rebels have increased attacks in the area, causing a drop in Suez Canal activity.
3 mins
The launch of this operation was announced with fanfare in December after that led by the United States (“ Guardian of Prosperity “) but it was necessary to make concessions to Spain. The European naval mission in the Red Sea is called Aspidès, the “ shields » in ancient Greek. This is a direct reference to the fact that this mission will be ” defensive »: the qualifier was hammered out by the 27 to clearly mark the difference with the operation “ Guardian of Prosperity » led by the United Statesreports our office in Brussels.
The European Aspidès operation, for example, will not be able to carry out strikes against land installations, differently from the American operation. It will be based on the principle of self-defense: not only in favor of the European warships of the operation, but also in favor merchant ships that must be protected.
“ Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, in coordination with our international partners », Wrote the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the social network X.
I welcome today’s decision to launch the EU Naval Force Operation Aspides.
Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working alongside our international partners.
Beyond crisis response, it’s a step towards a stronger European presence at sea to protect our…
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 19, 2024
There will therefore be coordination with the operation “ Guardian of Prosperity “, but with Aspidès, the Europeans wanted to show to the Arab countries that they were not committing themselves to the side of Washington, whose diplomatic posture is seen as resolutely pro-Israeli.
This was particularly a request from Spain. Madrid refused to extend the Atalanta naval operation to the Red Sea, planned against piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The radical left party (Sumar), belonging to the government coalition, saw this as an alignment with American foreign policy.
The EU’s Operation Aspidès will start with four French, Italian, Greek and German ships which will be joined by a Belgian ship. General command will be ensured by Italy, and operational command at sea by Greece. Scheduled for one year and possibly renewable, the mission should not be fully operational before “ a few weeks », when it will have sufficient resources, according to a European diplomat.
Read alsoTrade: Italy is the European country most affected by the Red Sea crisis
Houthi attacks again on Monday
Since January, the US and UK have carried out repeated strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen without being able to put an end to their attacksthe last strike having taken place on Saturday.
Again on Monday, new attacks were reported against shipping in the region. The Iran-backed Houthis targeted “ a British ship in the Gulf of Aden, the RUBYMAR, with naval missiles “, according to a statement from Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree.
The Houthis also said they shot down an American MQ-9 plane, a claim to which Washington has not yet responded. According to maritime security company Ambrey, the ship was heading north from the United Arab Emirates and had the Bulgarian city of Varna as its final destination.
Egypt: Suez Canal revenues down nearly 50% due to Red Sea attacks
Since November, Yemeni Houthi rebels claim to target ships linked to Israel or its supporters in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been bombarded relentlessly since the unprecedented deadly attack by Hamas on October 7 on Israeli soil. Houthi attacks, which are supported in the background by Iranhave pushed many shipowners to decide in 2024 to bypass Africa in the long term and to suspend passages through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, through which 12% to 15% of global traffic usually passes, according to the EU. “ You see what is happening at our borders […] with Gaza, you see the Suez Canal which brought Egypt almost 10 billion dollars per year, (these revenues) fell by 40 % at 50 % and Egypt must continue to pay companies and partners “, declared the Egyptian president during a conference alongside oil companies.
The immense work inaugurated in 1869 brought in approximately $8.6 billion to Egypt in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This windfall is significant in a country where importers and money changers are now struggling to find dollars. In the country which is going through the worst economic crisis in its history, canal revenues are as closely monitored as tourism revenues and remittances from Egyptian workers abroad. The trade volume transiting the Suez Canal has decreased by 42% in the last two monthsaccording to the UN, worried about the repercussions for all of world trade.
The weekly number of container ship transits fell by 67% year-on-year. The drop in tanker transit is 18%, that of bulk cargo ships (grain, coal, etc.) is 6% and gas transport is at a standstill.
(With AFP)
Read alsoWho are the Houthis, this Yemeni militia targeted by American and British strikes?