A European diplomat in Brussels confirmed to correspondents from “Al Arabiya” and “Al Hadath” channels that the European Union has officially begun discussions about a crucial mission to deploy a naval fleet to the Red Sea.
This mission aims to safeguard commercial ships from Houthi attacks.
European sources mentioned yesterday to our correspondents that the EU is preparing to send a military force to the Red Sea to ensure the freedom of navigation.
The sources stated that the European naval force would comprise destroyers, frigates, and early warning aircraft. Preparations for this European naval force are expected to take several weeks before it is deployed in the Red Sea.
In a related context, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, revealed that he had a conversation on Friday with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi regarding the escalating tensions in the Red Sea and the imperative need to preserve freedom of navigation.
On the other hand, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the British Royal Navy continues to patrol the waters of the Red Sea to deter Houthi attacks.
In a statement released by Sunak on Friday, it stated, “The Royal Navy continues its patrols in the Red Sea as part of the international ‘Guardian of Prosperity’ operation to deter further Houthi aggression. We call on them to halt their attacks and take steps to de-escalate.”
This comes in the wake of the US and the UK launching airstrikes on Friday morning on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, following weeks of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
This action comes one week after 12 countries, led by the United States, issued a warning to the Houthi rebels that they would face consequences if they continued targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea, one of the world’s vital trade routes.
Over the past weeks, the Houthis have carried out more than 25 targeting operations on commercial ships suspected of having ties to Israel or heading to Israeli ports near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern tip of the Red Sea.
In December, Washington formed an international alliance named “Operation Guardian of Prosperity” to safeguard maritime navigation in the region, through which 12% of global trade flows.
