The EU’s New Red Sea Naval Mission: Implications and Challenges
The Washington InstituteFeb 15
Greece Agrees to Join EU's Red Sea Mission
The Facts
Greece's National Security Governmental Council on Monday approved the country's participation in the EU naval mission — dubbed Aspides — in the Red Sea to counter Houthi attacks on shipping.
Soon after, the Greek Navy frigate Hydra departed southward to join warships from France, Germany, and Italy in the maritime security operation launched last week.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
With a consensual defensive mandate to bolster deterrence and protect commercial ships from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Aspides is the latest in many EU actions aimed at protecting freedom of navigation worldwide. Athens' move to approve its participation in this mission further demonstrates Europe's willingness to help de-escalate regional tensions.
Establishment-critical narrative
A whole new response to the crisis in the Red Sea is hardly the definitive answer to defusing tensions, especially as the West seems still to be ignoring that the Israeli offensive on Gaza is the root of all this instability. If the EU hadn't undermined its credibility among those supporting Palestine in the first place, the bloc could now seek a diplomatic solution instead of risking further escalating the conflict with this military mission.
Nerd narrative
There's an 80% chance that the submarine cables running through the Red Sea will be damaged by a hostile actor before March 15, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.