German Air Defence Frigate Departing Port to Join EU Mission in the Red Sea, According to Reuters

By Sabine Siebold

BERLIN (Reuters) – On Thursday, Germany deployed a significant air defense frigate to participate in an upcoming European Union naval mission in the Red Sea, set to commence in mid-February. This mission aims to safeguard merchant vessels from assaults by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia.

In recent months, many commercial shipping companies have rerouted their vessels due to the threats posed by the Houthis, who currently control substantial areas of Yemen. The group claims to act in solidarity with the Palestinians during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

"The security of maritime trade routes is crucial for our industry and our defensive capabilities," stated Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, the head of the German navy, during a press conference in Berlin. He noted that the situation in the Red Sea has already created supply bottlenecks, resulting in some companies halting their production. Kaack emphasized that over 90% of all goods destined for Europe and Germany are transported by sea.

In December, the United States and several other nations launched a mission to alleviate concerns regarding potential disruptions in one of the world’s key trading routes, which could impact the global economy.

However, some U.S. allies, particularly within Europe, have expressed concerns about the plan. These nations have hesitated to be under U.S. command, especially as the U.S. and Britain have conducted airstrikes on Houthi positions.

Countries including France, Greece, and Italy plan to participate in the EU mission, dubbed Aspides, which translates to "protector." This initiative will initially deploy three vessels operating under EU command, tasked with the protection of commercial ships and the interception of attacks, but they will not engage in strikes against Houthi forces on land.

The German frigate Hesse has departed from its North Sea base in Wilhelmshaven toward the Red Sea. Nevertheless, its involvement in the mission still depends on obtaining an EU mandate and the necessary approval from national parliaments, expected at the end of February.

The frigate is designed for air defense, equipped with advanced radar systems capable of detecting targets up to 400 kilometers (248 miles) away, as well as missiles that can intercept threats like ballistic missiles and drones at ranges exceeding 160 kilometers.

"We anticipate a wide variety of both direct and indirect attacks, including a range of ballistic missiles and drones, as well as remote-controlled vessels operating in a kamikaze manner," Kaack warned.