2023-12-19 17:40:00
With Germany’s participation? EU discusses military intervention in the Red Sea
December 19, 2023, 6:40 p.m. Listen to article
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In order to protect the important trade route between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden from increased attacks by the Houthi militia, the USA is launching the “Operation Prosperity Guardian” initiative. Nine states have already pledged their support, including four EU states.
There are discussions in the EU regarding possible support for the US initiative “Operation Prosperity Guardian” to secure shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthi attacks on merchant ships in recent weeks are worrying and an unacceptable violation of international law, said Peter Stano, spokesman for the EU Commission in Brussels. We are currently discussing what an answer might look like among the EU states and with partners. “What is needed is an international solution,” said the spokesman.
One option in the EU is to expand the mandate of the EU anti-piracy operation Atalanta to take part in the protection of merchant ships in the Red Sea. Its current mission is to help deter and combat acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. The main aim of this is to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid supplies to the crisis country. The Bundeswehr was involved in the operation until spring 2022. It is currently being supported in particular by forces from Spain.
The Spanish Defense Ministry in Madrid said that Spain’s participation in the US initiative depends on decisions by the EU and NATO. The US-proposed “Operation Prosperity Guardian” aims to improve the protection of merchant ships in the Red Sea through greater cooperation between naval forces. According to information from the US Department of Defense in Washington, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the Seychelles are taking part.
Germany is examining participation in the US initiative
SPD leader Saskia Esken has expressed reservations regarding a Bundeswehr deployment to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea. In an interview, she welcomed the fact that the USA wanted to counter the attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels with an alliance to secure the important sea route. “We have to see very clearly that this alliance is important and necessary, also for Germany, also for our trade relations,” she said.
But the SPD chairwoman added: “At the same time, the Bundeswehr also has very clear restrictions on which mandates it can take part in. And the Bundestag would also have to be involved.” It would be a Bundeswehr deployment abroad that has not yet been supported by a mandate from the United Nations. “So we would have to look very closely.” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has stated that German involvement is being examined.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking Israel with drones and missiles and attacking ships in the Red Sea to prevent them from passing through to Israel. They threaten to prevent ships of any nationality from passing through the Red Sea on their way to Israel. Only freighters delivering aid to the Gaza Strip would be granted passage. Since then, large shipping companies have increasingly avoided the route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, through which around ten percent of all world trade passes.
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