Portugal to join EU Red Sea 'mission', but not with frigate or ship

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Jan 2024 08:54
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Portugal's Foreign Minister has affirmed the country's commitment to the European Union's alleged mission of enhancing maritime security in the Red Sea.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon approaches the oiler USNS Kanawha (background) for replenishment-at-sea operation in the Red Sea on December 25, 2023, in this handout photo. (US Department of Defense / AFP)

Portugal has confirmed its participation in the European Union mission aimed "at enhancing maritime security in the Red Sea," according to a statement by Foreign Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho on Monday.

"Portugal will support this mission … Of course, it won’t be a frigate or a ship, but there will be some kind of participation on our part," Cravinho was quoted as saying by the Portuguese newspaper Renascenca.

Concurrently, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar announced that Slovakia will back the EU security mission in the Red Sea. He reportedly emphasized that while Bratislava lacks a fleet, it is keen on "safeguarding the observance of international rights."

This comes shortly after European Union foreign ministers have tentatively approved the formation of an alleged mission to "safeguard vessels from Ansar Allah attacks in the vicinity of the Arabian Peninsula." The decision was reached on Monday during their regular monthly gathering in Brussels.

The ministers have reportedly endorsed the creation of what they refer to as a "maritime security operation." According to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the specifics are still being worked out. They need to determine the countries whose ships will participate and establish rules of engagement in case those ships face attacks.

What is the EU operation plan?

Following the failure of US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to deter the Yemeni Armed Forces from carrying out their vowed operations, despite the five US-UK aggressions on the country, in addition to its failure to mobilize as many countries as possible to take part in the maritime alliance, European diplomats announced last week a new plan between EU countries, aimed at setting up a naval mission allegedly to help protect Red Sea shipping following the Yemeni Armed Forces' operations in the maritime route.

The proposal was mooted before US and British forces struck Yemen. All EU efforts seek to complement a US-led coalition, including numerous countries from the bloc, already operating in the vital shipping route, knowing that many chose to stay out of it.

The EU, last year, initially mulled a plan to expand its Atalanta mission focused on protecting shipping off Somalia, but that move was blocked by Spain.

New US-UK aggression targets Yemen

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Yemen reported on Monday that a new US-UK air aggression targeted several areas in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and its surroundings.

Our correspondent reported significant explosions that rattled the northern side of Sanaa, simultaneous with the presence of warplanes in the air. Reports revealed that the aggression focused on al-Dailami Air Base, located north of Sana'a, and al-Hafa Camp to the east, with a total of seven raids reported.

Earlier, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced that the navy had carried out a military operation during which it launched missiles at the American military cargo ship Ocean Jazz in the Gulf of Aden.

Saree declared that this operation was in support of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and in response to the Israeli occupation's aggression against civilians.

He also stressed that the response to the American and British attacks is inevitable and that "any new aggression will not go unpunished."

These events come in the wake of sustained aggression by the United States and Britain on Yemen, coupled with their ongoing militarization of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, emphasizing that these actions pose a "real and serious threat to international navigation."

The Yemeni Armed Forces have escalated their operations, targeting US-owned ships in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday and Thursday, as Sanaa has promised a wider-scale response to the US-led violations in Yemen.