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The United States is working to form a multinational maritime coalition to help protect commercial transit traffic in The Red Sea From attacks launched Houthi group From Yemen.
The Pentagon said yesterday, Thursday, that more than 20 countries have so far agreed to participate in the coalition known as Operation Prosperity Sentinel.
Some countries have not confirmed their participation, and others have said their efforts to help protect commercial shipping operations in the Red Sea will come within the framework of existing maritime agreements rather than a new process led by Washington.
The absence of details and the lack of clarity about what countries will do specifically has increased the confusion of shipping companies, some of which changed the course of ships away from the region after the attacks that the Houthi group says they are launching in response to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
What did the United States announce?
Last Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced plans to form the multinational coalition in the Red Sea under the name “Guardian of Prosperity.”
Austin said during a tour in the Middle East that the operations will be joined by Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Seychelles.
Yesterday, Thursday, the US Secretary of Defense announced that Greece and Australia had also joined this alliance, and said that this raised the number of participating countries to 20, but he added that at least 8 of them refused to announce their participation.
What do other countries say?
France:
The French Ministry of Defense said that it supports efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the surrounding area, and that it is already working in the region. But it added that its ships would remain under French command, and did not mention whether it would deploy other naval forces.
France has a naval base in the Emirates and 1,500 soldiers in Djibouti. Its frigate, Longdoc, is currently in the Red Sea.
Italy:
The Italian Ministry of Defense said that it will send the naval frigate “Virginio Fasan” to the Red Sea to protect its interests in response to specific requests made by Italian shipowners.
She said this comes within the framework of its current operations and is not part of Operation Prosperity Guardian.
Spain:
Spain’s Defense Ministry said it would only participate in NATO-led missions or operations coordinated by the European Union. She added, “We will not participate unilaterally in the Red Sea operation.”
Britain:
Britain said that the destroyer “Diamond” will join Operation Prosperity Guardian. The British Ministry of Defense stated that the coalition will operate as part of the joint naval forces led by the United States.
Greece:
Greece said yesterday, Thursday, that it will send a frigate from its naval forces to the Red Sea, and that it will participate in the naval operation.
other countries:
The Netherlands said that it would send two officers, while Norway announced that it would send 10 naval officers to Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the Joint Naval Forces Command, while Denmark stated that it would participate in the operation by sending one officer.
What are the existing maritime alliances operating in the region?
Naval forces from several countries are already participating in international operations to protect shipping lanes in the region, which includes protecting ships from pirates who have disrupted shipping off the coast of Somalia for several years.
These tasks include the following:
“Operation Atlanta,” launched by the European Union Naval Force in Somalia, operates off the Horn of Africa and in the western Indian Ocean to support United Nations resolutions to protect the seas from piracy, and is based in Spain.
“Operation Agenor,” which is European-led, aims to ensure freedom of navigation in Strait of HormuzIt is a major shipping corridor for oil exports from the Gulf countries.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational maritime partnership led by the United States from Bahrain, which hosts its headquarters. Fifth Fleet American. The combined naval forces include 39 members, including NATO member states NATO And European countries and others from the region and others.
One of its missions is Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153), which operates in the Red Sea.
