EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday, 21 September 2026, that the bloc’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea needs more than 10 warships, noting that the number of vessels currently in the area does not reach that level.
Kallas told journalists on the sidelines of the UN’s annual meeting of world leaders in New York that estimates at the launch of Operation Aspides indicated it would need at least 10 ships, adding that the current situation had become more dangerous than when the mission was established.
Kallas calls for additional ships and aircraft for the mission
In her letter, she said the Aspides mission continued to support freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait using resources provided by member states, but stressed the need for a significant increase in the European presence so the operation could fully carry out its mandate amid rising security risks.
Bab el-Mandeb risks prompt calls to strengthen European presence
Kallas linked her call for reinforcements to developments around Bab el-Mandeb, saying that the Houthis’ control of the port of Mokha, Perim Island and the Hanish Islands gave them influence over the strait and, in her words, posed a serious threat to maritime security along one of the main international shipping routes.
She added that the situation was already affecting European interests and supply chains, and could have implications for EU countries’ ability to support their economies, which have been hit by higher fuel prices. She noted continued uncertainty over the Houthis’ actions towards passing ships, despite the group’s announcement that its targets were limited to interests linked to Saudi Arabia.
Kallas warned that conditions could change rapidly and unpredictably, urging European governments to propose measures that could be taken to counter the threats, whether through the Aspides mission or the EU’s Atalanta naval operation in the area.
Italy calls for Aspides operation to be strengthened
Kallas’s move came after Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called for the European mission to be reinforced, following the deployment of the frigate Carlo Bergamini to protect an Italian cargo ship off the Yemeni coast. Crosetto criticised the presence of only two European warships in the area and said Rome could provide additional protection for its commercial vessels when necessary, even without a joint European decision.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said his country had been calling for the Aspides operation to be strengthened for months, adding that Italy and Greece were making a major contribution and that protecting European interests required military contributions from other countries or financial support from them. Operation Aspides was established in February 2024 to protect commercial vessels and support freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
The mission is defensive in nature, and its mandate allows the use of force to protect ships from attacks as they pass off the Yemeni coast. EU defence ministers are due to discuss the available options at a meeting on 28 September, ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 12 October.
Possible discussions include increasing the number of ships and aircraft, providing broader escort and protection capabilities, and examining measures that the Aspides and Atalanta missions could implement in the area.
