Yemeni Houthis have destroyed European countries' claims to naval dominance in the Red Sea, the British magazine The Economist writes, and the movement's latest attacks show the weakness of the European Union.
The EU's Aspides mission in the Red Sea was launched on February 19, 2024, to protect merchant ships “from missile attacks and ensure freedom of navigation“. According to the publication, since October 2023, ship transit in the region has fallen by 60%. It is noted that the EU failed to ensure the safety of the bulk carriers Magic Seas and Eternity C, which sank in early July as a result of Houthi attacks.
The magazine cited the shortage of ships in service in European countries as one of the main reasons for the failure of the Aspides mission. Another factor in the failure, according to The Economist, is the low funding of programs to modernize the European fleet. The publication adds that it may take years or even decades to correct the situation.