Head of EU force guarding cargo ships emphasises the need for additional warships to accommodate increased freight traffic.
Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, speaking from the EU operation headquarters in Larissa, Greece, highlighted the substantial distances requiring coverage and the current reduction in shipping by over 50 percent. While 79 ships have been safely escorted without damage under Operation Aspides, Gryparis stressed the limitations due to existing resources.
Operation Aspides, aimed at safeguarding international shipping, was initiated by the EU in February in response to Houthi attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea since November. The rebels’ actions, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have targeted ships bound for Israeli, British, and American ports, disrupting trade routes.
The United States Department of Defense reported at least 50 attacks by Houthi rebels on civilian and military vessels off Yemen’s coast. Consequently, soaring insurance costs and safety concerns have led many shipping firms to opt for the longer route around Africa’s southern tip.
