Germany confirms its readiness to participate in the European mission in the Red Sea

This Friday, Germany confirmed its willingness to participate in a European mission to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels – an option that is being discussed “intensively and urgently” in Brussels.

“We are ready to participate,” German Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said at a press conference in Berlin.

Starting next week, the issue will be discussed for the first time at European Union (EU) level, a German diplomatic spokesman said, adding that all legal and constitutional implications must be considered before a decision can be made.

German Defense Ministry spokesman Mitko Müller declined to provide specific details about the format of possible German participation until the “framework conditions” are known.

“We need to wait and see what the political decision, the possible mandate and the operational plan will be, and then we will be able to determine what the possible German participation will be,” he said.

According to a document from the European External Action Service (EEAS, the EU’s diplomatic service), published by various media, plans being discussed in Brussels include sending at least three warships to protect cargo ships from possible attacks.

The new mission, which could be based in the area between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, could begin operations at the end of next month.

Instead of expanding the Atalanta anti-piracy mission – due to Spanish resistance – a new mission is now being considered based on the current Agenor surveillance mission, which currently involves nine European states (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece , Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal).

The US and UK on Thursday night launched several attacks against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have launched operations against several cargo ships (Israeli or Israeli-linked) in recent months in retaliation for the war in the Gaza Strip, leading to nearly 20 shipping companies redirecting their ships bypassing the Red Sea.

Tesla’s car plant in Germany announced today that it will have to suspend some production for two weeks due to supply chain difficulties caused by shipping delays.

A spokesman for Germany’s Ministry of Economic Affairs said the situation presented “challenges” and that it could not be ruled out that some plants could see a negative impact on production from time to time, although he said there was no indication at the moment that there might be a “negative Effect”. on the economy as a whole.”