EU member states want to launch a Red Sea naval mission by mid-February to protect ships from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia and could decide its command structure on Wednesday, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said, Reuters reports.

“Not all member states will be willing to participate but no one will obstruct … I hope that on the 17th of this month (February) the mission can be launched,” Borrell told reporters ahead of a European Union defence ministers meeting.

He said the aim was to pick a lead nation, and outline where the mission would be headquartered, who would participate and with what assets.

France, Greece and Italy have shown interest in leading the mission, with seven countries so far indicating they would be willing to send naval assets, diplomats said, adding that it would be based off existing EU missions in the region.