On Monday, the European Union launched a naval mission named Aspides to protect cargo ships in the Red Sea. The mission will be based in Larissa, Greece and will be under the command of Greek Commodore Vasilios Griparis.
Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking commercial ships, posing a threat to maritime traffic and increasing trade costs. The attacks are believed to be in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza. The EU mission will focus on maritime situational awareness and will accompany and protect vessels. The goal is to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial route for global trade. The mission will not participate in military strikes and will operate solely at sea. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock highlighted the impact of the attacks on the global economy and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in defending the freedom of sea lanes. Germany and Belgium are among the countries contributing to the mission by providing frigates.
