Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto says contributions to an EU naval mission protecting Red Sea shipping remain insufficient, as Rome presses allies to do more to safeguard traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Reuters reports.
In a statement issued after meeting in Rome with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Crosetto welcomes a decision by some member states to contribute additional assets to Aspides, without identifying the countries involved.
“However, those contributions are still not enough to guarantee the safe passage of merchant vessels,” Crosetto said.
The European Union’s Aspides mission was launched in 2024 to protect commercial shipping from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with diplomats saying six warships are currently deployed.
