The European Union (EU) has agreed to contribute to the US-led operation to protect commercial maritime transport in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The decision was adopted by the 27 Member States at a meeting convened on Wednesday by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.
“We will intensify our information sharing and increase our presence with additional naval assets," Borrell said on X (formerly Twitter) after the meeting. "This demonstrates the EU’s role as a maritime security provider."
Earlier this week the EU High Representative released a statement on behalf of the EU and a group representing 44 Allies and partner nations condemning the Houthi interference with navigational rights and freedoms in the waters around the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the Red Sea.
The numerous attacks originating from Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen threaten international commerce and maritime security, the statement says.
The Houthis is an armed group which controls parts of Yemen since the civil was which devastated the country. It is backed by Iran and acts as its proxy.
Since Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on 7 October, it has used drones and missiles to target ships in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. This has forced shipping companies to avoid the Suez canal, deprived Egypt of revenues and affected global trade.
According to the Pentagon, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks, targeting 10 merchant ships linked to more than 35 countries. In November, they seized the Galaxy Leader, taking its 25 crew members hostage. The ship and crew are still in Yemen.
Some 12 percent of world trade goes through the Suez Canal. The figure for Europe is even higher. According to The New York Times, nearly 15 percent of European imports were transported by sea from Asia and the Persian Gulf, most of which go through the Suez.
The EU itself has no naval vessels but some EU member states - France, Italy and Spain - have agreed to participate in the international task force led by the US to protect the sea route and the right of navigation there.
The formation of an international coalition in the Red Sea to deal with the attacks on ships by Houthi rebels sparked a sharp reaction from Yemeni rebel leader Abdel Malek al-Houthi.
"If America wants escalation or is going to commit the idiocy of targeting our country, we will not stand idly by," the Houthi leader said on Wednesday in a speech broadcast by Al-Massirah TV, which is controlled by his movement. "We will then attack it and make US naval units, US interests and the US merchant marine the target of our missiles and drones," he added.
Update: A previous version of the article has been updated.
