The United States is working on forming a multinational naval coalition to help protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by the Houthi movement from Yemen. The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced yesterday that "more than 20 countries have agreed to participate in the coalition known as Operation Prosperity Guardian."
Some countries have not confirmed their participation, while others have stated that their efforts to assist in protecting commercial shipping operations in the Red Sea will come within existing maritime agreements rather than a new operation led by Washington. The lack of details and clarity on what countries will specifically do has increased confusion among shipping companies, some of which have altered their shipping routes away from the region following attacks that the Houthi group claims are in response to the Israeli attack on Gaza.
What has the United States announced?
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced plans to form a multinational coalition to protect maritime navigation in the Red Sea under the name Operation Prosperity Guardian. During a tour in the Middle East, Austin stated, "The operations will include Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain." He added that "Greece and Australia have also joined this coalition, raising the total number of participating countries to 20," but he noted that "at least eight countries have refused to announce their participation."
Operation Prosperity Guardian brings together countries that share a commitment to freedom of navigation. This coalition will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
What do other countries say?
- **France**: The French Ministry of Defense stated that it "supports efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the surrounding area, and it is already operating in the region." However, it added that "its ships will remain under French command and did not mention whether it would deploy additional naval forces." France has a naval base in the UAE and 1,500 soldiers in Djibouti. Its frigate Languedoc is currently in the Red Sea.
- **Italy**: The Italian Ministry of Defense indicated that it "will send the frigate Virginio Fasan to the Red Sea to protect its interests in response to specific requests from Italian ship owners." It stated, "This is part of its current operations and not part of Operation Prosperity Guardian."
- **Spain**: The Spanish Ministry of Defense announced that it will only participate in missions led by NATO or operations coordinated by the European Union, stating, "We will not participate unilaterally in the Red Sea operation."
- **Britain**: Britain confirmed that the destroyer Diamond will join Operation Prosperity Guardian. The British Ministry of Defense noted that "the coalition will operate as part of the combined maritime forces led by the United States."
- **Greece**: Greece announced yesterday that it "will send a frigate from its naval forces to the Red Sea and will participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian."
- **Other Countries**: The Netherlands confirmed that it will send two officers, while Norway announced it will send ten naval officers to Bahrain, which hosts the joint maritime forces headquarters. Denmark indicated on Wednesday that it will participate in the operation by sending one officer.
What existing naval coalitions operate in the region?
Naval forces from several countries are already engaged in international operations to protect shipping lanes in the area, including protecting ships from pirates who disrupted shipping off the coast of Somalia for several years. These operations include:
- **Operation Atalanta**, launched by the European Union's naval force, operates off the Horn of Africa and in the western Indian Ocean to support United Nations resolutions to protect the seas from piracy, with its base in Spain.
- **Operation Agenor**, which is European-led, aims to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for oil exports from Gulf countries.
- **Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)**, a multinational maritime partnership led by the United States from Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet. The CMF includes 39 members, comprising NATO member countries, European nations, and others from the region. One of its missions is Joint Task Force 153 (CTF 153), which operates in the Red Sea.
