Stories
EU Seeks Observer Status in Saudi-Led Red Sea Mission Amid Energy Crisis
- •The European Union is applying for "observer status" in a new Saudi-led multinational maritime defense coalition aimed at protecting the kingdom's energy exports.
- •EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas announced the move, highlighting the bloc's record energy prices due to the war in Iran.
- •Kallas will ask ministers to expand the EU's own Red Sea naval force, ASPIDES, to escort cargo vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb strait against Houthi rebel attacks.
- •The EU believes the "need is bigger than it's ever been" for more ships than the six currently deployed under ASPIDES.
- •The operational implications of observer status in the Saudi-led coalition for the EU or ASPIDES remain unclear.
Key Questions Answered
The European Union is applying for observer status in the Saudi-led multinational maritime defence coalition to help protect the kingdom’s energy exports. The bloc faces record energy prices driven by the war in Iran.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas plans to ask ministers to expand the small ASPIDES naval force, which currently has six deployed ships, to better escort cargo vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb strait against Houthi rebel attacks. ASPIDES was originally launched in February 2024 as a defensive response to those Houthi attacks.
The European Council updated the mandate for ASPIDES to collect and share information on threats to critical submarine infrastructure. The mission also supports capacity building by training Djiboutian maritime forces and enhances cooperation with the Yemeni Coast Guard.
