Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced on Friday, August 30, 2024, that his country has requested additional ships from European Union member states to strengthen the "ASPIDE" mission aimed at securing navigation in the Red Sea.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA, Crosetto stated during a meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels that more vessels are needed to ensure the safety of navigation in the Red Sea.

"We agreed that three ships are not enough to monitor such a vast area," he said, as reported by Anadolu Agency.

The Italian defense minister expressed hope that European countries would respond to this call despite their commitments in various fields.

He pointed out that this sea route is of vital importance to some member states, urging them to "share the burden."

On February 19, the European Union launched the "ASPIDES" maritime mission to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea from attacks by the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization.

Since November 2023, the Houthis, internationally designated as a terrorist group, have continued their attacks using missiles and drones against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and prompted many international shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of the African continent.

To deter the Houthis and protect maritime navigation, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023. US forces have been conducting strikes against Houthi military targets intermittently.