Belgian frigate Louise-Marie joins European naval Aspides mission
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The Belgian frigate Louise-Marie has officially joined the European naval operation Aspides in the Red Sea.
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A picture showing Belgium's Louise-Marie frigate (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES)
The Belgian frigate Louise-Marie has joined the European naval operation Aspides in the Red Sea. This deployment was confirmed by the Belgian Defense Service, with details of the ship's arrival through the Suez Canal shared by European naval forces on social media.
The Louise-Marie will be part of the Aspides mission for "just over five weeks" before transitioning to the Agenor mission in the Strait of Hormuz for a planned two-week period. This schedule has been arranged well in advance.
Excited to welcome the Belgian Navy ship, Karel Doorman-class frigate LOUISE-MARIE, the newest member of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES.
— EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) May 4, 2024
Her skills and expertise will be invaluable as we will tackle operational challenges together!#freedomofnavigation #redseacrisis #maritimesecurity pic.twitter.com/owqVeHCNhl
EU needs more warships in Red Sea to match Yemen's power
The European Union's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea lacks the warship power needed to protect ships heading to "Israel", or affiliated with the occupation, from the Yemeni Armed Forces' operations, the commander of the operation reportedly stated in Brussels.
German media revealed, citing Admiral Vasileios Gryparis of Greece, that the naval operation only had three warships left in the Red Sea, following the withdrawal of the German Hessen frigate.
Germany's Hessen retreated from the Red Sea on April 20 and arrived at Wilhelmshaven port in northern Germany on Sunday. However, the Defense Ministry stated that a ship rotation is underway, with the Hamburg frigate set to sail to the Red Sea in August.
Gryparis claimed that Aspides was able to defy the Yemeni's military operations, alleging that 96 commercial ships were successfully protected throughout their passage in the Red Sea, while 12 Yemeni drones were intercepted.
The EU's naval operation, however, experienced a short-lived and trivial "success", amid the absence of warships and the steadfast Yemeni defenses which have been able to overwhelm Aspides' air defenses, leaving them vulnerable to any operation.
Consequently, Gryparis stated that at least 10 warships would be required to escort commercial ships safely across the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Read more: USCENTCOM claims downing Yemeni drone over Red Sea
