Italy, France, and Greece are vying
to lead the new EU Aspides mission to protect Red Sea shipping
from Houthi attacks, a senior European official said Tuesday.
The final choice will be made known at the informal Defence
Council in Brussels Wednesday, he said.
In the meantime, the count of the personnel needed to set up the
mission has been completed, with means and men from seven
European countries, which will provide the three ships requested
by the EU's External Action Service to have the necessary impact
in the area.
In addition to the ships, the seven will reportedly also provide
aircraft, said the official.
Aspides will complement US and UK efforts to stem attacks from
the Yemen-based Iran-backed rebels on ships in the Red Sea.
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