Spain blocks EU participation in U.S. operation in Red Sea

Spain has vetoed the European participation in the US operation to ensure freedom of navigation and protection of ships in the Red Sea, the El Confidencial newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, Madrid initially wanted the entire community to participate in the mission. During an emergency meeting on December 20, the EU's Political and Security Committee unanimously approved the community’s participation in the initiative by expanding Operation Atalanta.

However, according to the newspaper, on December 21 Madrid changed its position and vetoed the decision at the meeting of the working group of EU advisers on international relations. European diplomatic sources told the newspaper that the Spanish government's "change of position" had not been explained to its partners.

On December 20, EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said that EU member states had decided to participate in the US Operation Prosperity Guardian to ensure freedom of navigation and protection of ships in the Red Sea.

20-Plus Countries Have Joined U.S.-Led Red Sea Coalition, Pentagon Asserts

More than 20 countries have signed on to join a U.S.-led naval coalition tasked with protecting Red Sea maritime traffic from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

“We’ve had over 20 nations now sign on to participate,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said at a Dec. 21 press briefing. “The nations that have agreed to publicly discuss their participation, we’ve put those out there,” he told reporters. “We’ll allow other countries and defer to them to talk about their participation,” Mr. Ryder added.

Earlier this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the launch of the multinational coalition, dubbed “Operation Prosperity Guardian.”

The operation’s stated aim is to protect Red Sea traffic from attacks by the Shiite Houthi militia, which overran much of Yemen—including the capital Sanaa—in 2014.
In announcing the launch of the coalition, Mr. Austin listed its members as the UK, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Bahrain, and Seychelles.

In his remarks on Dec. 21, Mr. Ryder said Australia and Greece had also “highlighted their participation in this operation.”

Dec. 22, 2023: Updated map of warships operating in Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea.