His comments came after the EU Foreign Affairs Council approved the mission under Italian force command.
It is “a necessary response to the hybrid war that the Houthis are waging in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, cutting off the communication routes that supply numerous countries, including ours,” said Crossetto.
“[It’s affecting our] economies and creating a competitive disadvantage for the West to the advantage of other nations, whose ships are not being attacked.”
Aspides is intended to complement US and UK efforts to stem attacks from the Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The mission will initially last a year and is also open to the participation of third countries.
ANSA
