19/12/2023 (Agence Europe) – On the evening of Monday 18 December, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, strongly condemned the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. “The disruption of international navigation and maritime security is unacceptable and must cease”, he stressed on X (formerly Twitter). The High Representative announced that the EU was coordinating with its partners to effectively counter these threats to peace and security. On the same day, the United States announced the launch of a naval operation by 10 countries, including France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, to protect shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks. At the European Council on 15 December, several Member States underlined their determination to support shipping in the Strait of Hormuz (see EUROPE 13315/2). (CG)