The US Department of Defense said Thursday that More than 20 countries will participate in a new international mission. to combat attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels against ships in the Red Sea.
“The results have been strong: to date, more than 20 countries have committed to participate. In the coming days, the United States will continue to consult closely with our allies and partners who share the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation, and we hope that the coalition continues to grow,” said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder during a press conference.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardianwith the participation of the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.
The Prosperity Guardian mission will be coordinated by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which includes a task force, CTF 153, created in April 2022 to improve maritime security in the Red Sea and the Bab el Mandeb Strait.
The CMF is made up of 39 countries, including Portugal.
“It’s very important to understand that the Houthis are not just attacking one country, they are attacking the international community. They are attacking the economic well-being and prosperity of nations around the world. So, in effect, they become bandits along the international Red Sea route,” said Pat Ryder.
Coalition countries will be able to contribute “in whatever way they deem most appropriate,” providing, for example, ships, planes, military personnel or other support, the Pentagon spokesperson added.
Ryder stressed that it is “a defensive coalition intended to ensure the safety of navigation” and that it will patrol the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to provide assistance to commercial vessels in need.
“The Houthis must stop these attacks and they must stop them now (…) They must ask themselves if they have gone too far in confronting the entire international community and having a negative impact on billions of dollars in global trade,” concluded the spokesman.
The Houthi rebel movement belongs to the so-called “axis of resistance”, along with Iran, Syria and the Lebanese Shiite groups Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas.
Following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis launched several missile and drone attacks against southern Israel and also against ships flying the Israeli flag or owned by Israeli companies in the Red Sea and in Bab al-Mandeb. Narrow.
This week, large shipping companies, such as the Chinese Cosco, its subsidiary OOCL and the Taiwanese Evergreen, temporarily suspended cargo transportation on the Red Sea route – one of the main maritime routes in the world that connects Europe, Asia and Africa -, joining to companies like Maersk and Hapag. -Lloyd.
Source: TSF
