Two countries have signalled they may send warships to reinforce the European Union’s Red Sea mission as renewed Houthi attacks leave the bloc short of vessels to protect commercial shipping, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. Speaking after a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels on Monday, Kallas said commercial vessels were waiting for escorts because Operation Aspides did not have enough frigates to meet demand.
“We need more vessels because literally there are commercial ships that are waiting in the queue to receive the escort,” she said, adding that two countries had indicated they might provide additional ships, without naming them. The EU launched Operation Aspides in 2024 to protect shipping from attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis.
The mission currently relies mainly on three vessels from Italy and Greece, although Kallas said at least 10 ships had initially been considered necessary. France has already deployed an additional frigate and urged other countries to strengthen the mission. Kallas suggested that ships earmarked for a separate coalition planned to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could instead be used in the Red Sea, as that coalition has yet to become operational.
The renewed attacks have heightened European concerns over energy supplies and inflation, with the continent already facing higher energy costs amid the war between US and Iran.