The commander of the EU's Red Sea naval defense operation has distanced his mission from daily US strikes on the Houthis, as tension between the Americans and the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels grows.
“We are dealing with their actions against the shipping industry, and we are protecting global common goods like the freedom of navigation, and the sea farers’ lives” Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, the commander of the EU's Red Sea naval defense operation said in a recent press interview.
The EU launched Operation Aspides – named after the Greek word for “shield” – in February 2024 in response to Houthi attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea to the Suez Canal. It provides close protection for commercial ships, intercepts strikes on them, and monitors and assesses potential threats.
Aspides currently has three vessels – the Italian Federico Martinengo, a Hellenic Navy HS Hydra and a French frigate – to cover a huge mission area extending into the north-west Indian Ocean.
Lacking more assets from EU states, Admiral Gryparis, in his interview with The National at the headquarters of the EU Naval Force Operation Aspides in the Greek city of Larisa, admits that his huge problem is the number of the assets that he has and the vastness of the area of operation,” because I cannot protect everybody there,” the commander said.
EU provision of more assets for the mission could help temper US criticism that Europe is not pulling its weight in securing maritime routes. Up to 15 per cent of global maritime trade volumes typically pass through the Red Sea.
“I just hate bailing Europe out again,” US Vice President JD Vance was reported as writing in a leaked Signal conversation last week, as he supported a suggestion to strike the Houthis.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth replied: “Vice President, I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s pathetic.”
In response to those claims, Admiral Gryparis said that some of the vessels for which his mission has provided close protection belong to US companies, or have US interests.
“If the European countries want to have greater involvement, of course, they have to decide upon that, and I'm already here to deliver,” he said. “I have already given evidence to everybody that although I don't have the necessary assets, we are doing the best we can, and we provide evidence and numbers.”
Forces from 21 of the 27 EU nations are participating in the mission: personnel from Finland, the Netherlands and Poland are seen at the Larisa base. The majority of the rest are on board the Italian Federico Martinengo, the operation’s current flagship.
Aspides is “totally different” from Washington-led efforts, according to Admiral Gryparis, although his forces co-ordinate with a separate US-led military operation in the area, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to avoid friendly fire incidents and to preserve ammunition by not doubling up on responses to an incoming threat.
“We are not supporting attacks on Yemeni soil,” he added. “So that's a huge difference in how we do things.”
The commander also steered clear of taking political stances on the conflict that prompted the start of the Houthi assault on the shipping lane.
“We are not part of the Gaza conflict. We are not supporting either the Israelis nor the Palestinians,” he said. “We are trying to stay focused on this exact mission and also to describe our mission to the neighboring countries, and also to pass significant and relative messages to the Houthis on what exactly we are doing.”
In February, the mandate of Aspides was expanded to include the collection of information on weapons trafficking and shadow vessels and sharing it with EU states, Interpol and other international organizations, potentially helping to curb Houthi weapons supplies. Shadow fleets are ships transporting prohibited goods, often used by heavily-sanctioned nations such as Iran and Russia.
“Our understanding is that the weapons that are reaching the Houthis are coming from specific sources,” Admiral Gryparis said. “So if we have a better understanding of where and how these weapons are reaching the Houthis, and we can control it to some extent, this would be very beneficial for the security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.”
Greater co-operation with countries neighbouring the Red Sea is “on the table”, said Admiral Gryparis. He has also reached out to India to try to get them on board; under his mandate, Admiral Gryparis can invite third-party non-EU states to participate in the operation.
“Some of these countries are already participating in other coalitions in that area for other reasons,” he added. “So they could also join a coalition which is totally defensive.”
The mission’s involvement in helping to prevent a potentially disastrous oil spill last summer, and repelling incoming threats, have helped allay concerns in some neighbouring countries.
Ultimately, Admiral Gryparis believes that diplomacy must supersede military means in providing a long-term solution to the Houthi threat.
“We don't believe that this problem can be solved only with military actions,” he said. “In the long run, we need to have the Yemenis on our side. Europe will still need the trade routes that pass through the Red Sea. So we have to build up something more permanent.”