Full Breakdown
EU Calls for Reinforcement of Operation Aspides Amid Rising Houthi Threats
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged member states on September 28 to increase naval and air contributions to Operation Aspides, the EU’s Red Sea maritime security mission. She said the mission is operating below the minimum ten-ship requirement needed to protect commercial shipping from the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
Background & Context
Operation Aspides, launched in February 2024, safeguards navigation and escorts merchant vessels through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. The EU Council extended the mandate in February 2027 and allocated nearly €15 million for the period starting 1 March 2026. Houthi attacks have intensified since early September, allowing the group to capture coastal towns such as Mokha and threaten the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key energy-trade chokepoint.
Timeline
- Sept 19 – EU discussion of reinforcing Aspides began, eight days after the Houthi offensive started.
- Sept 17 – Italy announced a separate national naval deployment.
- Sept 21 – Kaja Kallas told reporters in New York that the mission remains under-resourced.
- Sept 28 – Kallas reiterated the call for additional warships; VesselFinder recorded more than 50 large ships transiting the Red Sea.
- Oct 12 (scheduled) – EU defense ministers will meet to discuss the issue.
Data & Statistics
- The mission calls for at least ten ships; current deployments are three to six vessels from Italy and Greece, with occasional support from other members.
- Reports vary: one EU diplomat cites six warships, a Bloomberg analysis notes three primary vessels, and the mission commander mentions four warships actively patrolling.
- On Sept 28, more than 50 large vessels were recorded transiting the waterway.
- Funding for common costs totals nearly €15 million from 1 March 2026 through the end of the mandate.
Official Statements & Responses
- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani warned that without additional military contributions, other EU states must at least provide financial support.
- French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said the Houthi attacks threaten Europe’s energy security.
- The EU Council affirmed that Aspides operates under international law and has added information-sharing on submarine activity and training of Djiboutian maritime forces.
- Admiral Vasileios Griparis, mission commander, highlighted the asset shortfall and urged member states to assume responsibility for specific sea stretches, as Italy has done.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of vessels currently deployed: European diplomats report six warships, Bloomberg cites three primary vessels, while the mission commander mentions four actively patrolling ships. No definitive, up-to-date roster is available, leaving the capability gap unclear.
Why It Matters / Impact
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a critical conduit for global energy supplies; disruptions force ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, raising transit time, insurance costs and fuel prices. Europe is already facing elevated energy prices and inflation, with consumer-price growth breaching 3 % in August, prompting the European Central Bank to raise borrowing costs twice. Strengthening Aspides is presented as a way to protect trade routes and maintain the flow of goods between Asia and Europe.
What’s Next
EU defense ministers will reconvene on Oct 12 to discuss additional contributions to Operation Aspides and assess progress toward the ten-ship target.