Despite internal discord, EU to launch Red Sea naval mission within 3 weeks

Analysis

Rina Bassist

Feb 2, 2024

French marines patrol the area around the French navy frigate, the FS Languedoc. — French marines patrol the area around the French navy frigate, the FS Languedoc (D653), as seen in port on Jan. 20, 2024, in Djibouti. — Luke Dray/Getty Images

PARIS — The European Union is set to establish a naval mission to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels. The mission is expected to be officially launched on Feb. 19, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced on Wednesday.

The new mission was announced during an informal meeting in Brussels of EU defense ministers and will be launched when European foreign ministers convene for their monthly meeting in the Belgian capital later this month. Borrell stressed on Wednesday that the mission will "not be participating in any kind of actions against the Houthis, only blocking their attacks."

Addressing journalists, Borrell explained that "maritime security in the Red Sea has significantly deteriorated over the last weeks," referring to the roughly 50 attacks carried out by the Iran-backed group on international shipping lanes in recent months.

Not all members of the EU are onboard, Borrell said, but "they will not obstruct." Spain, for its part, has opposed the creation of the maritime task force and likely won't take part.