The European Union’s naval Aspides mission said the total number of ships that have requested protection and escorts since the mission was launched in 2024 reached 2,640, amid continuing security risks facing shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. The mission also said that 260 ships had requested protection since the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels began.
Escort requests continue in Bab el-Mandeb
An Aspides spokesman said about 130 ships request escorts in the Bab el-Mandeb area each month, adding that the European mission is closely monitoring security developments in the strait, the Red Sea and the surrounding area, as threats targeting commercial shipping continue.
The spokesman added that the mission continuously assesses the security environment within its area of operations and works to ensure freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and within its defined mandate. He said Aspides is ready to carry out its duties within the resources and capabilities provided by member states, with the aim of protecting international shipping and securing the passage of commercial vessels.
Shortage of ships limits mission’s capabilities
The European mission faces challenges related to the availability of the naval assets required to carry out protection and escort operations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Aspides was suffering from a shortage of warships, explaining that the force currently deployed did not even include the number targeted by the EU when the mission was launched, set at 10 ships.
Kallas said, on the sidelines of a meeting of EU defence ministers two days ago, that the decision to launch Operation Aspides in 2024 provided for the formation of a naval force comprising 10 warships. She added that the mission did not currently have even that number, indicating the operation’s need for more naval support from member states.
Houthi attacks disrupt maritime shipping
The discussion of the shortage of warships comes as risks continue in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, following a series of attacks by the Houthis on commercial vessels using missiles, drones and other means. The attacks disrupted shipping in the area and increased demand for maritime protection and escort services.
The European Union formally launched the Aspides mission on 19 February 2024, after Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden intensified, amid the repercussions of the war in Gaza and regional tensions. The EU gave the mission a mandate focused on protecting shipping and vessels’ freedom of passage in the area of operations in accordance with international law.
Bab el-Mandeb is a major corridor for global trade, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The Red Sea also forms an essential part of the maritime route connecting Asian and European markets via the Suez Canal, making the safety of navigation there linked to trade flows between the two continents.
Security risks have prompted several global shipping companies to divert their vessels away from the Red Sea and adopt longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope.
The route changes have affected transport and insurance costs, as well as increasing the time required for sea voyages between Asian and European markets.
