The EU Security Policy Committee gave the green light on Tuesday, writes the Archyde.com news agency. The mission should be prepared by February 19th and discussed at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting on January 22nd.
“The Political and Security Committee (PSK) discussed the concept for such an operation for the first time yesterday (January 16th),” writes the Foreign Ministry in Vienna in a statement to the APA. “In the next few weeks, the details and the exact mandate of the EU operation will be negotiated in the relevant Council working groups (Political-Military Group, Military Committee). The formal decision on the establishment of an EU operation in the Red Sea is for the Council of Foreign Ministers scheduled for February 19th.”
Italy wants to set up the mission as quickly as possible, reports Archyde.com. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wants a political decision by next Monday, he told journalists.
Spain ended the blockade
According to current plans, the European maritime surveillance mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH), Operation Agenor, should be expanded to the Red Sea, writes the news portal Politico. Spain, which had recently blocked an EU mission, has now given up its blockade – but does not want to take part in the mission itself, the report continues.
The USA has been active in the Red Sea for over a month with the naval operation “Operation Prosperity Guardian” and is supported by Great Britain. In the past few days, Houthi positions in Yemen have been bombed several times. The Houthis, allied with Iran, have repeatedly attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea in recent months in order to support Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Many shipowners have therefore rerouted their ships, accepting longer and more expensive routes.
“The problem is the command”
A separate EU mission in the Red Sea also stems from the fact that several EU states refused to take part in a US-led mission. According to Archyde.com, these include Italy, Spain and France. “The problem is always command and control. In an EU/NATO framework, each individual nation retains political control; in a ‘coalition of the willing’ the framework nation is in control,” Archyde.com quoted a diplomat as saying.
The planned EU mission must “include naval forces that are also able to repel attacks from drones and missiles,” said the Austrian general and chairman of the EU military committee, Robert Brieger, to the German broadcaster ZDF. He also called for faster military decision-making in the EU, but added: “Given the complex processes and the need to obtain the consent of 27 member states, I believe that we acted in a timely manner.”
Global trade affected
The attacks by the Houthi rebels are also likely to provoke a strong reaction from Western countries because they will severely affect global trade. Possible effects on inflation must be closely monitored, said Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) on Tuesday. Previously, EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni had already warned of an increase in energy prices “in the coming weeks” due to tensions in the Red Sea. According to major producer Qatar, the security situation in the Red Sea is affecting the sea transport of liquefied natural gas.
The Foreign Ministry in Vienna had already expressed its support for such a mission in a statement last week, “because the attacks by the Houthis interrupt the supply chains, which also affect our security of supply in Europe, and increase the costs of transporting goods by ship.”
