EUROPEAN UNION RED SEA MISSION

Abstract

The article examines the general situation in the Red Sea region that has developed since the start of regular armed attacks by the Yemeni Houthis on merchant ships there in October 2023. Data is provided on the damage caused by this rebel organization in Yemen to regional and global trade. The author pays special attention to the analysis of the role of the naval forces of Western states in the Red Sea. Since October 2023, the most powerful US Navy grouping in recent decades has been formed there, and after February 19, 2024, warships from EU countries joined it as part of Operation Aspides («Shields» from ancient Greek). Thus, Brussels took a noticeable step as part of its strategy of strengthening geopolitical influence not only in the Middle East, but also on a broader scale, taking into account the importance of the Red Sea routes for world trade, as well as for the regional security system. It is expected that the area of responsibility of this EU naval mis- sion will soon be expanded to include the Persian Gulf and the northern Indian Ocean. Taken to- gether, the author views the situation in the Red Sea as a manifestation of degradation in the securi- ty sphere of the Middle East and in the world as a whole.

Keywords

• red sea
• houthi
• houthis
• yemen
• saudi arabia
• uae
• france
• italy
• european union
• eu
• navy
• aspidas
• persian gulf.