European "Speeds": 260 ships have requested protection since the start of the Houthi attacks

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The European Union's ASPEDS naval mission revealed that 260 ships have requested protection and escort since the start of Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, at a time when the European mission continues to monitor security developments in Bab al-Mandab and the surrounding area.

In addition, a spokesman for the Aspids mission said in statements to Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath that about 130 ships request escort in the Bab al-Mandab region every month, stressing that the mission is closely monitoring security developments in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.

He also added that Aspids conducts a continuous assessment of the security environment in its area of ​​operations, and is prepared for the mission to ensure freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and within its specific mandate. He stressed that the mission is “ready to carry out its tasks within the limits of the resources and capabilities provided by member states,” with the aim of protecting international navigation and securing the movement of commercial ships in the region.

He also explained that the total number of ships that requested protection and escort since its launch in 2024 reached 2,640 ships, which reflects the size of the demand for maritime protection since the start of the European mission in the wake of the escalation of attacks on shipping traffic in the region.

These statements came at a time when the European mission is facing challenges related to the availability of naval vessels necessary to carry out its missions. European Union foreign policy official Kaya Kallas confirmed that Aspedes suffers from a shortage of warships, noting that the current force does not even include the number targeted when the mission was launched, which was 10 ships.

Callas said on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union defense ministers two days ago that the decision when launching Operation Aspids in 2024 stipulated the formation of a force that would include 10 warships, adding that the mission does not currently have even this number.

The European warning also comes in light of the continuing dangers facing navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, after a series of attacks carried out by the Houthis on commercial ships, using missiles, drones, and other means to target shipping traffic.

Note that the European Union officially launched the "ASPEDS" mission on February 19, 2024, following the escalation of Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as part of the repercussions of the war in Gaza and escalating regional tensions.

Bab al-Mandab is a major corridor for global trade, as it connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, while the Red Sea represents an essential part of the sea route that connects Asian and European markets via the Suez Canal.

It is noteworthy that the Houthi attacks led to disruption of navigation in the region, and prompted a number of international shipping companies to redirect their ships away from the Red Sea, on longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope, which had an impact on transportation and insurance costs and trip durations.