EU may join Saudi-led maritime coalition against Houthis as observer

The European Union could participate as an observer in the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition against the Houthis, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

Kallas also said the number of vessels requesting protection in the Red Sea had been increasing, Al Arabiya reports.

She noted that the EU needed additional ships for its Aspides mission to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea before the operation could become fully operational.

The EU launched Aspides to help safeguard maritime traffic in the Red Sea amid attacks on commercial vessels.

By Sabina Mammadli