NATO, EU lack unity, Red Sea coalition is proof: Ex-Italian Navy chief
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The former Navy's top commander says France and Spain's response to the US-led coalition was a proof of lack of cohesion among NATO and European Union partners.
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Italian Navy's Virginio Fasan FREMM in EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta in 2022 (Italian Navy)
The former chief of staff of the Italian Navy, Luigi Binelli Mantelli, said the failure to establish a maritime military coalition in the Red Sea is proof of the lack of unity among NATO and EU members during a critical period of escalating tensions in the region.
The Yemeni Armed Forces have been targeting Israeli and "Israel"-bound ships in the Red and Arabian seas in support of Gaza and in response to the Israeli genocide in the Strip, conditioning stopping the attacks on allowing sufficient aid into the besieged Strip.
Meanwhile, Sanaa repeatedly stressed that only vessels fitting the mentioned criteria will be targeted, and navigation through the strategic trade routes is completely safe for other ships.
Read more: US kills Yemeni navy forces 'carrying out duty' toward Palestine, Gaza
In December, the United States established a 20-nation maritime coalition under the Operation Prosperity Guardian initiative, with a claimed mission of stopping Yemeni operations. The coalition members first included France and Spain, who later announced exiting the force.
Italy, on the other hand, refused to operate under Washington, stating that it would send a naval frigate to the Red Sea to protect its national interests in response to specific requests made by Italian shipowners.
Luigi Binelli Mantelli criticized the three European countries for their reaction to the maritime force, stating it has a negative political indicator, not a technical one.
"France and Italy will not be part of the US-led coalition in the Red Sea. While this may not have a significant impact on operational coordination, as navies are adept at coordinating actions even outside of a specific chain of command, it serves as a political indicator of our weakened unity among NATO and EU partners," he warned.
On that note, Binelli-Mantelli emphasized the need for NATO to "again revise and widen its role in the world’s stability and security... and think about its own solidity.”
The evolving situation in the Red Sea, according to the former top commander of the Italian navy, is currently “testing our determination and cohesion to protect our economy and our common values and way of life.”
A large response
The US-led sea alliance failed to prevent Yemen from actionably enforcing its equation, prompting the world's top shipping companies to announce rerouting their vessels away from the Red Sea and around Africa.
The most recent firm to announce such a decision was Chinese state-owned Cosco last Sunday, which announced suspending all shipping to the Israeli occupation entity over the situation in the Red Sea.
Yemen's latest operation on Thursday targeted CMA CGM TAGE commercial ship that was heading to "Israel".
The attack came after the United States, UK, and France issued a "final warning" on Wednesday to Sanaa to stop its maritime operations in the Red Sea.
In response to the trio's statement, Yemen confirmed that its equation will not change and that its stance on Gaza is principled and not up for negotiations. The Yemeni leadership also cautioned that any attack on the country would be met with a decisive, severe, and large response.
