Italy: New Red Sea Mission key step forward for EU security in Middle-East

ROME (AA) – The new European military mission in the Red Sea that Italy is promoting with France and Germany will be a “considerable step towards a true European defense,” Italy’s foreign minister said after the three countries presented their plan at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

Antonio Tajani told reporters at the end of the meeting that the EU foreign ministers gave a preliminary green light to a proposed mission in the Red Sea aimed to protect shipping from the attacks of Yemen’s Houthis against Israel-bound vessels in the wake of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza.

“We are proposing along with France and Germany a mission that can guarantee the safety of maritime traffic,” Tajani told reporters.

He explained that the new operation – which will expand the Emasoh/Agenor mission already active in the Strait of Hormuz – will also entail the use of military force, but “only for defense purposes.”

Since November, the Houthis from Yemen have launched dozens of attacks on ships moving to or from Israel through the Red Sea.

The Houthis’ attacks are a response to Israel’s relentless military assault on besieged and impoverished Gaza which is sustained through shipments of military supplies by Israel’s powerful Western allies.

“Italy is ready to do its part,” Tajani said, clarifying that Italy’s parliament will be addressed on the new mission, but it won’t require a new parliamentary vote of approval.