EU Seeks More Warships For Red Sea As Hormuz Mission Remains On Hold

The European Union wants member states to send more warships to the Red Sea as merchant ships wait for naval escorts amid renewed Houthi attacks.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there are not enough frigates to meet requests from commercial ships seeking escorts under Operation Aspides.

Operation Aspides began in February 2024 to protect merchant ships from attacks in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and northwest Indian Ocean. Ships from EU countries take part in the mission on a rotating basis.

The mission now has about six warships. That is below the initial assessment that at least 10 ships were needed.

Kallas said the EU does not simply need more ships. It needs ships with the right capabilities.

She said Aspides needs frigates, air-defence support and ships that can escort merchant vessels.

Kallas added the situation had become more serious because of the increase in attacks and the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Trump administration says the Strait of Hormuz is open. Iran says it is closed.

Two countries indicated that they might provide more vessels, Kallas said after Monday’s meeting. She did not name them.

Belgium is considering sending another frigate to the EU Red Sea mission, according to Euractiv.

Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz said the Netherlands viewed the request favourably but had limited resources.

The Dutch frigate Evertsen left the Netherlands for the Middle East on Sunday.

Italy has also backed a stronger Aspides mission. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto reportedly asked Kallas for more support.

France said it agreed that more capabilities were needed. However, it said the request was “not really directed at France” because it already has ships assigned to the mission.

Spain said it would not send more ships to Aspides. Madrid said it remains committed to the EU’s anti-piracy Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean.

France has already sent an additional frigate and has asked other countries to contribute more ships.

The request for more warships comes after the Houthis resumed attacks on Saudi-linked ships in the Red Sea in July.

The Yemen-based group announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia before resuming the attacks.

The Houthis have also seized Perim Island, according to USNI News. The island is near the Bab el-Mandeb and gives the group a position close to the waterway.

The attacks have increased demand for naval escorts. Kallas said commercial ships are already waiting because there are not enough frigates available.

The attacks have also raised concerns about further disruption to fuel supplies. Those supplies are already under pressure because of the conflict between the United States and Iran.

France said it would send troops and radar systems. The UK offered aircraft for support, according to the supplied reports.

References: Bloomberg, USNI