Germany is set to dispatch its frigate, the Hessen, to the Red Sea next week as part of a European mission aimed at safeguarding merchant vessels from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to reports from DPA news agency.
The Hessen, armed with air defense missiles among other capabilities, is expected to reach the Red Sea by the end of this month.
EU Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, announced on January 31 that the EU’s maritime mission in the Red Sea would be established and launched no later than February 19.
He emphasized that the mission would be solely defensive, with no operations conducted on land.
In November 2023, the Houthis issued a threat to target any ships associated with Israel until it ceased military actions in the Gaza Strip.
In response, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea.
Subsequently, the United States and the United Kingdom conducted significant strikes against Houthi positions to diminish their capacity to threaten commercial vessels.
In mid-January, Borrell called upon the Houthis to exercise restraint and underlined the right of nations to protect their vessels from potential attacks.
He highlighted the critical importance of the Red Sea as a maritime route of global significance, particularly for Europe. Consequently, he proposed the establishment of an EU mission in the Red Sea to ensure safe navigation.
Last week, Borrell confirmed that EU foreign ministers had reached an agreement to establish the mission.
