The EU Red Sea naval mission is facing renewed pressure as security risks around Bab al-Mandeb increase and merchant vessels seek more military escorts. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has urged member states to provide additional ships to Operation Aspides, warning that existing forces are insufficient.
Aspides
Operation Aspides was launched in 2024 to protect commercial shipping from attacks and other threats in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. Kallas told EU defence ministers in Brussels that the mission needs more naval units because commercial vessels are waiting for escorts that current forces cannot provide.
She has previously said the original planning assessment called for at least 10 ships. With the regional security environment worsening, she suggested the requirement could now be even higher. The EU has not publicly confirmed that member states have pledged enough vessels to meet that level.
Bab al-Mandeb
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and routes toward the Indian Ocean. Any disruption can affect shipping between Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean.
EU defence ministers formally discussed freedom of navigation through Bab al-Mandeb and the Red Sea on September 28. The Council said additional national assets are needed so Aspides can effectively support commercial navigation.
Kallas also stressed that ship quality matters alongside numbers. Frigates with air-defence and escort capabilities are particularly important because the mission must protect merchant traffic against a range of threats.
Belgium
Belgium is among the countries considering additional support for the mission, although no final deployment was publicly confirmed at the time of the Brussels meeting.
The limited response highlights a broader challenge for the EU. European navies already face competing commitments across NATO, the Mediterranean and other maritime missions, leaving fewer ships available for a sustained Red Sea presence.
Dutch
The Netherlands has also strengthened its naval presence in the region. HNLMS Evertsen departed on September 27 for a deployment of more than three months and is replacing HNLMS De Ruyter.
The Dutch Defence Ministry said Evertsen can support both Operation Aspides and Operation Atalanta while passing through their operational areas. Any deployment toward the Strait of Hormuz will depend on political decisions and the evolving security situation.
Italy
Italy remains one of the important contributors to Aspides. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has supported strengthening maritime security operations as pressure grows around key shipping routes.
Italian and Greek vessels have been among the main contributors to Aspides, while Italy has also maintained frigates and mine-countermeasure ships in the wider region.
The shortage now facing Aspides shows the gap between Europe’s maritime-security ambitions and the number of ships governments are willing or able to deploy. If threats around Bab al-Mandeb continue to rise, the pressure on member states to provide frigates, air-defence capability and escort vessels is likely to increase.
The next test is whether political support in Brussels translates into actual deployments. Without more capable ships, the EU could struggle to meet growing merchant escort requests while maintaining a credible defensive presence along one of the world’s most important trade corridors.
