EU struggles to ramp up Red Sea mission as Houthis escalate attacks

Aspides is the European Union’s naval operation in the Red Sea. It was launched in February 2024 after attacks on merchant vessels increased following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Its purpose is to help keep commercial navigation safe through a vital international route.

The mission uses warships to escort vessels and strengthen Europe’s presence near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Aspides has already escorted hundreds of vessels. Italy and Greece provide its three core ships, while several other countries contribute vessels on rotating assignments.

The mission now faces a larger security challenge. Houthi attacks have intensified, and the EU says it needs at least ten ships for a credible operation. Italy has urged stronger support, but only the Netherlands and Belgium have pledged one additional vessel each. The EU is therefore trying to reinforce a mission that is already stretched.

The Houthis are a Yemeni armed group backed by Iran. Their attacks matter because they operate near one of the world’s important maritime routes. When merchant ships face attacks, companies may delay voyages, seek escorts, or avoid the area altogether.

The article reports a recent series of Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia. They hit Riyadh’s international airport and caused 14 deaths and more than 300 injuries. Separately, the wider surge in attacks on merchant vessels prompted the creation of Aspides. The security situation in Yemen has since deteriorated further.

This threatens both shipping and energy movement through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The article describes the strait as a critical chokepoint for energy supply. More attacks could therefore disrupt international trade routes and create major difficulties for European economies that depend heavily on Middle Eastern energy.

EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said Aspides needs at least ten ships to operate credibly. The article does not state one fixed number of warships currently available. Italy and Greece supply three core ships, while Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium contribute vessels that rotate in and out.

The two new pledges come from the Netherlands and Belgium. The Netherlands will add a frigate in an associate role, focused on awareness and information gathering. Belgium will add the Leopold I, one of its two frigates, but technical problems mean it is not expected to join until next year.

This leaves the mission below the requested level of reinforcement. The article describes the number of operational ships as constantly changing because of the rotation system. Kallas said several countries were still discussing contributions, so further pledges could emerge, but none are confirmed in the article.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a narrow sea passage near Yemen and the entrance to the Red Sea. Because ships have limited room to pass through, threats there can affect a much wider trading system. The EU describes it as a critical chokepoint for energy supply.

The strait matters because it carries vessels using the Red Sea as part of international trade routes. Aspides is intended to strengthen Europe’s presence there and help keep navigation open. Italy requested more support after an Italian frigate escorted an Italian merchant vessel off Yemen’s coast.

If insecurity makes the passage harder to use, ships may need protection or alternative routes. That can make journeys longer and more expensive. The article links the worsening Yemen crisis to threats against vital international trade routes, especially those connected to energy supplies and European economic interests.

If attacks make the Red Sea too risky, shipping companies may avoid the route or require more protection. A detour generally adds sailing time, fuel use, insurance costs, and crew exposure. Those extra costs can reach importers and consumers through higher prices and slower deliveries.

The article does not provide exact forecasts for European energy prices or delivery times. It does show why the risk matters. Italy depends heavily on Middle Eastern energy, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is described as a critical chokepoint for energy supply. The attacks also threaten vital international trade routes.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the crisis is creating major difficulties for European economies and citizens. Continued disruption could therefore increase economic pressure across Europe. The EU is seeking more ships for Aspides, but its current shortage of naval capacity makes a strong response difficult.

The EU is struggling because its naval forces must cover several priorities at once. Some member states prefer to keep ships in the Baltic and Black Seas, where Russia’s hybrid attacks are a concern. Those choices reduce the ships available for the Red Sea.

Aspides also depends on a complicated rotation system. Italy and Greece provide three core ships, while Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium contribute vessels that drop in and out. This means the number of operational warships constantly changes rather than remaining stable.

The bloc’s wider defence weaknesses add pressure. A confidential 2026 readiness assessment reportedly found critical gaps in maritime capabilities, with current investments expected to fill them only after 2030. The result is a competition for limited naval capacity. Even when countries have capable ships, they may not be able or willing to deploy them to every crisis simultaneously.

A naval escort travels with, near, or monitors commercial vessels in a dangerous area. Its presence can discourage attacks and give merchant ships a trained military response if a threat appears. This is why Aspides was created to secure navigation and has escorted hundreds of vessels in the Red Sea.

The article gives a direct example. An Italian frigate escorted an Italian merchant vessel off Yemen’s coast, prompting Italy to request more support. Escorts can therefore protect individual voyages and reassure shipping companies that help is nearby. They also show that Europe is actively defending a vital route.

But escorts cannot solve the underlying security crisis. The article says Houthi attacks have intensified and that Yemen’s situation has deteriorated. A limited number of warships cannot cover every vessel or guarantee safety everywhere. Open trade ultimately requires a stable route, while escorts provide protection around particular ships and missions.