EU to launch Red Sea naval mission Monday

The EU on Monday will officially launch its naval mission in the Red Sea to defend commercial shipping from Yemen's Houthi militants' attacks, two senior European sources told Argus.

The operation — named "Aspides", an ancient Greek word for shield — will involve three frigates for what will be initially a year-long mission, Hannah Neumann, chair of the EU parliament's delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, told Argus on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference.

The mission is being touted as a "defensive operation" to ensure freedom of navigation and protect merchant vessels from Iran-backed Houthi militants. Its area of operation will include Bab el-Mandeb, the Strait of Hormuz, as well as international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf, according to the EU Official Journal. It will not conduct operations on land in Yemen.

Germany and Belgium announced they will send a frigate each to join the mission, as will Italy.

Houthis attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden forced tanker operators to reroute westbound voyages under the longer and costlier Cape of Good Hope route. Total toll revenues from the Suez Canal have dropped by 40pc since the end of November to $28mn, according to maritime freight management firm Veson Nautical.

By Bachar Halabi