Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said European contributions to the naval mission protecting Red Sea commerce remain insufficient. Rome is pressing partners to increase their presence around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where insecurity threatens a maritime route linking Asian trade with Europe through the Suez Canal.
Crosetto spoke after meeting European Union foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas in Rome. He welcomed a decision by several unnamed European countries to provide additional assets to Operation Aspides, but said the new commitments still did not create the force needed for reliable protection.
The European Union launched Aspides in 2024 to defend commercial vessels against attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. Its mandate is protective, centred on escort, surveillance and response to threats against shipping rather than a wider offensive campaign on Yemeni territory.
Diplomats said six warships were deployed under the mission. Crosetto has argued that more than ten are needed for adequate coverage, because vessels must patrol a large area, rotate crews, maintain equipment and be available when merchant ships require assistance.
Bab el-Mandeb is only about twenty-nine kilometres wide at its narrowest point, but its economic importance is global. Ships passing between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean use it to reach the Red Sea and Suez, making disruption costly for freight schedules, insurance and energy markets.
Italy has repeatedly called for a stronger European naval presence as the Middle East conflict widens. Crosetto said in September that some movement had followed his earlier warnings, yet the October assessment shows Rome believes the response remains below the operational requirement.
The dispute is not about whether Europe should protect navigation but how member states divide ships, personnel and risk. Naval commitments compete with other defence priorities, and additional pledges must translate into deployable vessels rather than political support alone.
Crosetto's warning therefore places burden-sharing at the centre of maritime security. Six ships can escort and monitor traffic, but limited coverage leaves gaps during maintenance or simultaneous incidents. The effectiveness of Aspides will depend on sustained contributions and coordination, not a single increase in assets.
