Source: European Parliament
The EU has repeatedly condemned[1] the Houthi threats and attacks against commercial ships, including the illegal seizure of the ‘Galaxy Leader’ vessel and its 25-member crew, as unacceptable violations of international law threatening maritime security, peace and stability in the region.
The EU underlined that they must stop, notably through the High Representative/Vice-President’s (HR/VP) declaration on behalf of the EU and its Member States of 12 January 2024[2], welcoming the 10 January 2024 United Nations Security Council resolution 2722[3] condemning the Houthi attacks.
On 19 February 2024, the EU deployed its Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ASPIDES[4] in the Red Sea, with a mandate to protect ships under attack, accompany vessels and reinforce maritime situational awareness, in cooperation with partners.
Over the last six months of deployment, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES has contributed to uphold the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and beyond by protecting more than 220 merchant vessels during their transits under missiles and drones threats.
In addition, it has established in a record time a network of cooperation with the shipping industry. The decision to sail back in the Red Sea is taken by private actors based on their evaluation of the risk analysis between costs and dangers.
- [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/ep-plenary-speech-high-representativevice-president-josep-borrell-houthi-attacks-red-sea_en
- [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/01/12/yemen-statement-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-welcoming-the-un-security-council-resolution-strongly-condemning-houthi-attacks-on-red-sea-shipping/. See also the EU Spokesperson’s statements of 5 and 13 December 2023: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/yemen-statement-spokesperson-houthi-attacks-red-sea_en, https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/yemen-statement-spokesperson-houthi-attacks-ships-red-sea_en
- [3] http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/doc/2722
- [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/583/oj