The Red Sea Navy’s European Mission, known as Aspides, began on February 19 and has since escorted 68 ships, while detaining 11 pirates. This update was announced by Joseph Borel, the European Union’s representative for external actions and security policy. During a press conference in Brussels, Borel emphasized the need for the EU’s intervention in the Red Sea due to the worsening security conditions faced by ships. He mentioned the rising costs of transportation, with the expense of shipping goods from China to Europe doubling. Borel clarified that the EU mission focuses on protecting ships and does not involve any military action.

Consequently, the deteriorating situation has hampered the navigation of the Yemeni Gas Company’s “Ansar Allah” aircraft carrier, preventing its passage through the Red Sea to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Pirate activity has been observed in the Red Sea and the Aden Gulf since November of the previous year. On March 14, Abdel Malek al-Houthi, the mission’s commander, revealed that ships related to Israel, intending to transport weapons from the Indian Ocean to India’s Barehousso, were detained by his comrades.

In response to the actions of the “Ansar Allah” movement, the United States and the United Kingdom have initiated airstrikes on pirate military facilities in different locations across the Red Sea. The European Union’s military operation in the Red Sea, named Aspides, was launched on February 19. The significance of these developments has reached global attention, including news coverage in Armenia.