Will the European “shield” protect the Red Sea?

The European Union deployed its frigates in early March as part of the ASPID naval mission to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Ansarullah. It is said that this mission complements the “Guardian of Happiness” naval operation led by the United States, which began a month ago with the cooperation of several other countries, including England. The Europeans have promised full cooperation with Washington, but they intend to act exclusively under their command and according to their rules in this mission.

But what seems strange are the questions that concern the mind, firstly, why are several military operations of the same type carried out in the same region, which includes the countries of the same military block? Secondly, what will be the rules for the use of weapons by the participants in this naval mission? Thirdly, why one of the European countries (Spain) first announced its readiness to cooperate with the US in the naval operation “Guardian of Happiness” and then refused to participate in it and then joined the European naval mission, but finally Is it out?

official decision

The official decision to launch this mission was made on February 19 in Brussels and at the meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union. The statement of the Council of the European Union states: “The Council has launched the ASPID mission. The purpose of this maritime defense security operation is to restore and protect the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Operation ASPID ensures EU naval presence in the region. An area that has been the target of numerous Houthi attacks on international commercial ships since October 2023. “Working closely with like-minded international partners, ASPID will help protect maritime safety and ensure freedom of navigation, especially for merchant ships,” the Council’s statement stressed.

The Council of the European Union explains that the operation will be active along the main maritime links in the Straits of Bab al-Mandab and Hormuz, as well as in the international waters of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

The Greek Vasilios Gripparis was appointed as the commander of this operation and the Italian admiral Stefano Constantino as the commander of the forces. The headquarters of this operation was located in Larissa, Greece.

The Council also emphasizes that Operation ASPID will be closely coordinated with Task Force Atalanta, which aims to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia in order to enhance maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea, as well as similar cases.

combination of forces

According to the information that is currently available to the public, the composition of the operation forces will include the German Hessen, the Greek Hydra, the Italian, the Belgian and two French frigates. A number of other EU countries have expressed their desire to participate in this mission, sending support personnel and air equipment. Some of the ships involved in the operation, for example the French frigates Languedoc and Alsace 12, are already in the area, while others, for example the Belgian frigate Louise Marie, have yet to arrive from Europe.

Read more:

The European Union officially started its mission in the Red Sea

Where did the problem start

Most military experts are confident that attacks from the sea on Yemeni Ansarullah’s fixed military facilities will result in some casualties and damage, but will have minimal impact on their ability to attack commercial and civilian ships. In addition, this action may cause a more serious escalation of the conflict; And the EU strongly does not want such a development, especially when EU merchant ships in the Red Sea become one of Ansarullah’s main targets. Currently, the European Union is suffering losses not because of the destruction of its ships, but simply because of the reluctance of shipping companies to accept the risk and change their routes to the southernmost part of the African continent and pass the Cape of Good Hope.

At the same time, European countries have also become one of the main victims of this crisis. According to the report of the European Commission, since the beginning of the escalation of the situation in the Red Sea, the cost of sea transportation between Asia and Europe has increased by 40% and their duration has increased by 10 to 15 days. Naturally, this leads to higher prices and further deterioration of the economic situation in Europe.

Saving the European economy

At this point, the European Union has chosen an exclusively defensive style for its mission. Warships are allowed to shoot down missiles and drones that may pose a threat to merchant ships, but they are not allowed to attack the locations where these missiles and drones are launched. To a large extent, this issue can lead to the failure of the Aspid naval mission and even the naval mission of the Guardian of Happiness led by the United States. Because simply countering missile and drone attacks cannot guarantee the success of the European and American naval mission in the Red Sea. Especially since some American commanders have admitted their inability to face Ansarullah’s attacks. On the other hand, not all European countries have a unified position in this regard. The example of Spain, which not only did not participate in this mission, but also turned away from the request of the United States and the Zionist regime to cut off financial aid to the UNRWA agency in the affairs of the Palestinian people.

It seems that the position of America and Europe to confront Yemen’s Ansarullah and protect the navigation process in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden will fail. In general, the conflict in the West Asia and all its consequences, including the confrontation in the Red Sea, have become an acute problem for the European Union. By launching this naval mission, Europe is dealing another direct blow to its economic situation. Because the forces of the Yemeni army have committed with a firm will until the Israeli regime does not stop its attacks on Gaza, they will continue the attacks on the ships of this regime or the ships bound for the occupied territories in the Red Sea. Before this, Europe imposed sanctions against Russia that directly targeted itself. An example of that was the European sanctions against Russia’s gas and energy sector, which is considered a form of economic self-harm; Therefore, with all the expenses that Europe has incurred for setting up a naval mission in the Gulf of Aden and confronting Yemen’s Ansarullah, it seems that it has no effect on ending the disruption of Europe’s maritime trade and its economic crisis.