Borrell Proposes Naval Mission in the Red Sea

The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, has stated that he has sent a proposal to EU countries to establish a naval mission in the Red Sea to ensure navigation safety following attacks on civilian vessels by Yemeni rebels.

It has been reported that earlier this week, Borrell visited Saudi Arabia, where he discussed this issue with the country's leadership.

“Saudi Arabia has made progress in negotiations regarding a peace agreement in Yemen and does not want the Gaza conflict to jeopardize this prospect. On our part, we are discussing potential assistance in restoring freedom of navigation, including the establishment of a new European maritime operation alongside the Atalanta mission, which is already operational near the coast of Somalia. Immediately upon returning to Brussels, I presented this proposal to EU member states,” Borrell wrote on his blog on the European External Action Service's website.

Borrell noted that a significant portion of the cargo transported through the Red Sea is intended specifically for Europe, and a prolonged blockade of this route would result in additional transportation costs.