The EU’s participation in the conflict will be assessed no later than January 22.
High representative in the EU Josep Borrell has proposed the establishment of an EU military crisis management operation to respond to the situation in the Red Sea, says the foreign minister Elina Valtonen (collect.).
According to Valtonen, EU participation will be assessed on a political level at the latest at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on January 22.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been targeting merchant ships transiting the Red Sea with drones and missiles since November. According to the Houthis, the attacks are a countermeasure to Israel’s attack on Gaza.
The United States and Britain carried out several strikes against the Houthi rebels on the night before Thursday and Friday.
– Finland is in close contact with allied countries regarding the development of the situation in the Red Sea and supports the discussion of international actions, including possible EU actions, to stabilize the situation and prevent escalation, Valtonen tells by text message.
The President of the Republic and the Prime Minister’s Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, or tp-utva, have also discussed the situation. The office of the President of the Republic did not comment on the situation on Friday.
The Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Bahrain have been involved in the US and British operation by providing logistical, intelligence and other assistance. The Ministry of Defense reports that by Friday afternoon, Finland had received no official requests to participate in the situation.
The top two in the presidential election polls, Pekka Haavisto and Alexander Stubb commented on night attacks to in connection with another interview.
In Stubb’s opinion, the United States, Britain and the countries supporting them were right to strike.
– Because the goal of the Houthis has been to stop maritime traffic (in the Red Sea), where about 12 percent of world trade moves and thereby influence the course of the world economy, Stubb states.
However, Stubb does not believe that the major players have the desire to escalate the conflict more widely.
Haavisto notes that the Houthis have attacked commercial cargo traffic several times, most recently against American and British ships.
– The UN Security Council condemned these attacks. Last night’s attacks are a response to this situation.
Haavisto says that he considered the risk of regional escalation to be significant, unless the cycle of violence in Gaza is broken.
– The situation now desperately needs more intermediaries than new parties.