Reluctance Among U.S. Allies for Red Sea Task Force
U.S. President Joe Biden’s initiative to form a new maritime force, Operation Prosperity Guardian, in response to Yemen’s Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping has encountered reluctance from some allies.
Two European allies, Italy and Spain, who were initially listed as contributors to the operation, have issued statements suggesting a distancing from the maritime force. The reasons for this reluctance or withdrawal are not explicitly stated, but it indicates challenges in garnering broad international support for the initiative.
The Pentagon characterizes Operation Prosperity Guardian as a defensive coalition involving over 20 nations, aimed at ensuring the unhindered flow of commerce through the vital shipping chokepoint in Red Sea waters off Yemen.
However, nearly half of the participating countries have not publicly acknowledged their contributions or permitted the U.S. to disclose their involvement. Contributions from these nations vary, ranging from dispatching warships to sending staff officers. The lack of public acknowledgment or disclosure may indicate varying levels of commitment or reluctance among participating nations.
The reluctance of some U.S. allies to associate themselves with Operation Prosperity Guardian may be influenced, in part, by the tensions arising from the conflict in Gaza. The Biden administration has maintained firm support for Israel amid international criticism over its offensive in Gaza, which the Gaza health ministry reports has resulted in the death of more than 21,000 Palestinians.
The complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding the conflict in Gaza may contribute to the hesitancy of certain allies to publicly align themselves with the U.S.-led maritime force.
“European governments are very worried that part of their potential electorate will turn against them,” said David Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the Complutense University of Madrid, noting that the European public is increasingly critical of Israel and wary of being drawn into a conflict.
Since November 19, the Houthis, who are supported by Iran, have attacked or taken control of twelve ships using drones and missiles in an attempt to impose international pressure on Israel for its war, which came after Hamas militants on October 7 went on a rampage in southern Israel that claimed 1,200 lives and kidnapped 240 more.
Houthi-launched drones and missiles have been shot down by the navies of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
The United States feels that the growing Houthi attacks necessitate an international reaction distinct from the ongoing battle in Gaza, according to a source familiar with Biden administration thinking.
Ships entering the Rea Sea do so through the Suez Canal, which is essential for the transportation of goods between Asia and Europe and accounts for almost 12% of global trade. Because of the Huthi attacks, some ships have had to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, which has significantly increased sailing costs and time.
Resuming shipping operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is something that Denmark’s largest container company, Maersk, said on Saturday. On Wednesday, however, Germany’s Hapag Lloyd declared that it will keep sending ships around the Cape of Good Hope because it still feels the Red Sea is too unsafe.
DISPUTES ABOUT GAZA
Only twelve of the 20 nations that the United States claims have signed up for its maritime task force have had their names released.
“We’ll allow other countries, defer to them to talk about their participation,” U.S. Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters last week.
In a coordinated statement denouncing the Houthi attacks, the EU indicated its support for the maritime task force.
While Greece, Britain, and other countries have openly supported the U.S. operation, a number of them stated in the U.S. announcement that they are not actively involved.
The Italian Ministry of Defense announced that independent of the U.S. operation, it would dispatch a ship to the Red Sea in response to requests from Italian ship owners. Although its ships will continue to be commanded by France, the country stated that it supports measures to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
Spain has declared that it would not participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian and that it is against protecting Red Sea cargo with the current EU anti-piracy mission, Atalanta. However, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on Wednesday that he was open to the idea of forming an alternative mission to deal with the issue.
Before this, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia declared their lack of interest in the project.
Political leaders’ hesitancy can be partially explained by the public’s outrage over Israel’s Gaza offensive. According to a recent YouGov poll, a sizable majority of people in Western Europe, especially in Spain and Italy, believe that Israel should cease its military operations in Gaza.
There’s also a chance that Houthi reprisals could be directed towards participating nations. According to the source with knowledge of U.S. administration policy, certain nations are choosing not to participate in the endeavor due to this risk, not differences in opinion toward Gaza.
As per a senior Indian military officer, it seems that India is unlikely to participate in the U.S. operation. According to an official from the Indian administration, the government is concerned that allying with the United States may increase its vulnerability.
Needed is international assistance
Several Gulf and European nations already serve in one of the various military alliances commanded by the United States in the Middle East, such as the 39-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
An official with CMF stated that the group already has a “reciprocal relationship” of cooperation with the EU’s Atalanta operation.
As a result, certain nations that have chosen not to formally join the Red Sea maritime task force may nonetheless plan operations with the US Navy.
For instance, although Italy, a member of Atalanta, has not announced its intention to participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian, a source in the Italian government informed Reuters that the coalition led by the United States is pleased with Italy’s commitment.
The source also stated that no additional legislative authorization was needed because the decision to send a naval frigate as part of ongoing operations was made to expedite deployment.
Iran’s military proxies in the region are putting pressure on the US on several fronts, which is why the US is trying to win over other countries to its cause of pushing for Red Sea security.
Beyond the Houthis in Yemen, U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq have been attacked by militias backed by Iran.
The US has not launched any retaliatory airstrikes on the militia in Yemen thus far, although it has launched a few limited ones against the militia in Iraq and Syria.
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The Pentagon’s objective with the new maritime alliance, according to Michael Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East during the Trump administration, is to detach any future Houthi strikes from the Israel-Hamas conflict and make them an international matter.
“Once the military vessels in Operation Prosperity Guardian start protecting commercial shipping and come under a direct attack, (the Houthis) will be attacking the coalition, not just the U.S.,” Mulroy said.
