«Given the gravity of the current situation and our geostrategic interests, it is important that the EU demonstrates its willingness and capabilities to act as a global security actor, including in the maritime sector ». Italy, France and Germany write this in a document that they will present to the Foreign Affairs Council this morning and in which they return to the EU naval mission in the Red Sea. "The mission will be in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Sea and will be defensive", we read in the text, which underlines "the importance of using the already existing structures and capabilities" of the Emasoh/Agenor mission, in the Strait of Hormuz .

« Continuing tensions in the area risk having negative repercussions on the global economy , causing an increase in transport costs and delivery times of goods. If prolonged, it could have potential destabilizing effects on some countries, such as Egypt, whose budget largely depends on revenues from transits through the Suez Canal (Egypt received around 8.6 billion euros in the year fiscal 2022-2023)», write Rome, Paris and Berlin in the paper, also recalling the two missions implemented so far by the EU in the area of navigation safety: operation Atalanta, against Somali piracy, and operation Emasoh/Agenor, in the Strait of Hormuz.

The signatories , regarding the mission in the Red Sea, « therefore invite the High Representative to implement all possible diplomatic efforts to ensure that the mandate and activities of Operation Aspides enjoy the highest possible level of understanding in the region and beyond . From an operational point of view, the signatories of this document invite other Member States to favorably consider their participation, with naval assets or personnel contributions, in Aspides as a tangible sign of support for the common political objective of protecting freedom of navigation and to uphold international law." Finally, they underline that «the operation could be launched in application of the art. 44 of the TEU, if necessary", according to which for missions of this kind "the Council may entrust the execution of a task to a group of Member States who wish to do so and who have the necessary capabilities to carry out that task".

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani , speaking on Friday evening in Bergamo at a meeting with a group of industrialists, explained that «Aspides is not just an international police mission, it is a very important political signal from the EU: we are in the direction of common European defense , which is the real necessary piece for the common foreign policy."

The crisis in the Red Sea does not seem to be easing and the repercussions on trade are tangible : according to Unimpresa, the Houthi threat on the Suez Canal, through which 20% of the world's goods pass, has caused maritime traffic to collapse by 90%. 5.5 billion of Italian agri-food exports to Asia are at risk, Coldiretti warned.

The White House, meanwhile, underlined that US military action to stop the Houthis "will take time", while Politico explained that, according to US intelligence information, Yemeni militiamen are seeking more weapons from Iran and they could directly attack Western forces in the region.

(Unioneonline/vl)

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