Red Sea Under Houthi Attack: EU has decided to send warships, but without clear plan or consensus

After hesitating for weeks, the European Union seems to have reached some sort of agreement on establishing an operation in the Red Sea to safeguard one of the most important shipping lines from Houthi attacks emanating from Yemen. The Houthi terror group has been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestine and Hamas, and in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. According to a Reuters report that quoted EU diplomats who spoke on anonymity, EU’s Political and Security Committee—body responsible for foreign and security issues and policy—had given initial approval for the mission and the aim was to establish by February 19 to make it operational soon after. The timeline could be advanced given the rising tensions in the area. Earlier, Politico has reported that EU wanted to send some three warships the Red Sea region to tackle Houthis. The publication claimed to have seen a document issued by the European External Service—EU’s diplomatic arm—which said EU was mulling to create “a new EU operation” which intended to “act in a broader area of operation, from Red Sea to the Gulf”. The EU seems to be taking a cue from the US’ Operation Prosperity Guardian under which, allied with the UK, America did hit Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation to missile and drone launches aimed at commercial ships in the Red Sea. But, there is more than meets the eye to this decision of the EU to join the anti-Houthi campaign in Red Sea region. The member countries, reported Politico after speaking to a host of diplomats, were deeply divided on the issue. Joining a potential escalation that could eventually suck in Iran openly into the conflict is one of the thorniest questions that the bloc is grappling with. In days leading to this sort of agreement on sending ships to the Red Sea, EU gave mixed signals to the US-led effort, exposing several faultlines within the bloc. The White House has maintained: “Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.” America’s efforts have so far been supported by the UK, Netherlands—a large portion of the country’s economy passes through the Red Sea since it is the link to the Suez Canal—Denmark and Germany. Spain, however, had openly declared that it would not participate in the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian. Italy and France, both have naval presence in the area, but did not join the US in its campaign against the Houthis. Meanwhile, even as EU diplomats will meet to delve into this matter, Politico quoted diplomats, speaking under anonymity, as underlining that there was not yet any clarity on how this plan will be thrashed out.  Contentious question is which countries will provide the warships: Germany’s Sachsen class frigates are great vessels for such naval air defence ops, but the country has just three. Question is, can Germany, or others, spare some hardware for anti-Houthi ops. Moreover, the jury is still out on whether Spain will relent and join the effort. A similar quandary has been erected by France. The country has maintained that it would not participate in targeting Houthis, or be part of any initiative, that could lead to a wider conflagration. The French have stuck to their line that their vessels were there in Red Sea to maintain the freedom of navigation only, and that too for French or associated ships. Whether the French position has changed or no, it is yet not clear. Moreover, several publications have so far tried to take the EU on record in these matters, but the former has had nothing to say on “classified” discussions.