EU's Kallas says Red Sea mission needs more than 10 warships

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated the bloc's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea requires more than 10 warships, up from the current six, citing an increasingly grave situation due to Houthi advances along the coast and the broader US-Iran war context. Kallas sent a letter to member states on September 19 requesting increased contributions.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated on Monday that the European Union's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea requires more than 10 warships to adequately protect shipping, up from the current six. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Kallas described the situation as "even more grave" than when the mission was launched in 2024 to counter attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The Houthis have made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast in recent weeks, further complicating routes in a region that also includes the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has dwindled due to the US-Iran war. Italy announced on Thursday it was preparing its own naval mission, saying it could not wait for the EU to respond. Kallas sent a letter to the EU's 27 member states on September 19 requesting increased contributions of naval and air assets, warning that the evolving situation is already affecting European interests, supply chains, and economies hit by rising fuel prices.