The Belgian frigate Louise-Marie has joined the European operation Aspides in the Red Sea.
Details of the arrival of the Belgian ship via the Suez canal were confirmed by the Defence service and shared by the European naval forces managing the operation on social media.
The Louise-Marie will participate in the Aspides mission for “just over five weeks” before moving onto a two-week stint in the Strait of Hormuz for the Agenor mission, which has long been scheduled.
Launched by the European Union on 19 February with a one-year mandate, Aspides aims to secure commercial navigation in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and up to the north-western area of the Indian Ocean.
Since late 2023, merchant ships in the Red Sea have been under attack by the Houthi rebels, who claim to act in solidarity with the Palestinian population. These attacks have greatly disrupted the heavily trafficked area, a vital link in global trade.
The Aspides operation does not carry out any on-land attacks, with its mission being purely defensive. It escorts merchant vessels, protects them against potential offensives, and monitors the situation, with the aim of preserving as much freedom of navigation for trade as possible and preventing the spread of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict throughout the region.
The operation is commanded from an operational headquarters in Larissa, Greece.
In January, all 27 members agreed in principle on a defensive naval mission in the Red Sea and surrounding areas. The Belgian government had already announced it would participate in the fleet with the Louise-Marie, which has been at sea since 10 March with 175 crew members.
