The Netherlands are planning to make a frigate available for the EU’s new mission in the Red Sea to protect ships against attacks from the Houthis in Yemen, according to an announcement on Wednesday (17 January).
‘We are still investigating it, but we will also discuss it properly with the House of Representatives,” outgoing Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren told BNR but added the outgoing Dutch government was ‘very positive’ about participating in the new mission.
The pledge comes after EU member states gave initial backing on Tuesday (16 January) for the creation of a naval mission to protect ships from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in the Red Sea, based on an EU proposal reported by Euractiv last week.
EU to move ahead with Red Sea mission to deter Houthis
EU member states gave initial backing on Tuesday (16 January) for the creation of a naval mission to protect ships from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in the Red Sea, according to several European diplomats.
Before the Netherlands sends a frigate to the Red Sea, Ollongren said The Hague will want to have clarity about contributions from other EU member states.
“If everyone sails to the Red Sea at the same time, that is, of course, not effective,” Ollongred said, adding a “sustainable solution” would be needed as the conflict with the Houthis “can last longer and longer and it remains exciting”.
The Netherlands is already contributing to the two US missions in the Red Sea, including providing two staff officers for the Operation Prosperity Guardian mission launched last month.
In addition, The Hague has deployed a staff officer to the US mission with the United Kingdom from which Houthi targets in Yemen have previously been attacked.
The new EU mission is expected to be based on Agenor, a French-led joint surveillance operation covering the entire Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and part of the Arabian Sea, conducted in the framework of an umbrella mission dubbed European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH), located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal participate in EMASoH.
(lexandra Brzozowski | Euractiv.com)
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Source: euractiv.com
