The EU’s mission in the Red Sea, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, has already repelled 11 attacks by Houthi rebels since it was launched on 19 February, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced on Monday 8 April (see EUROPE 13353/8).
“In less than two months since its launch, the operation has escorted 68 ships and repelled 11 attacks”, he explained at a press conference with the Operation Commander, Commodore Vasileios Gryparis from Greece.
During these attacks, nine aerial drones, one maritime drone and four ballistic missiles were intercepted, according to Mr Gryparis.
“Given the number of assets in place, the scale of the operation and also the order for immediate action, the priority was to focus on high-risk areas, where the majority of illegal attacks have taken place”, explained the Commodore, pointing out that the ASPIDES area of operation was twice the size of the EU.
So far, he says, all the ships that have been protected have been so successfully and all the ships that have requested protection have been escorted.
Four Member States have deployed frigates and 19 have contributed personnel to the operation’s headquarters. While he felt that the operation’s performance to date had been “very good”, the High Representative called for more to be done. “We need to increase our capacity – we now have four ships and occasional cooperation. We are trying to work to increase the logistical support on land that the mission needs, as well as the medical capabilities, just in case”, he added.
Mr Borrell recalled the three objectives of ASPIDES: to protect ships, to support them and to raise awareness of maritime safety. Since the Houthi attacks, the journey time, diverted via the Cape of Good Hope, has increased by around 10 days, “the cost of a container transported from China to Europe has doubled. Maritime transport insurance has increased by 60%”, he added, estimating that only half of the 70 ships that used to pass through the Suez Canal every day are still doing so. Before the crisis, 13% of trade passed through the Red Sea.
The initial term of the ASPIDES operation is one year, with a budget of €8 million. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)