Red Sea tensions: Greece and Italy call for more warships to counter the Houthis

The worsening situation near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait has placed Greece and Italy at the forefront of European efforts to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea.

The expansion of the Houthi presence along Yemen’s western coast and mounting pressure around this key maritime chokepoint have renewed calls for stronger European naval engagement in the region.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has called for the deployment of more warships, while highlighting the contribution of Greece and Italy to ensuring freedom of navigation.

Speaking to Reuters, Crosetto said that Greece and Italy are currently the two European Union countries that are, in effect, shouldering the burden of efforts to ensure navigational security in the area.

The issue is particularly important for Athens, as Greece is one of Europe’s leading maritime powers and has a direct interest in keeping the sea corridors between Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe open and secure.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which serves as the southern gateway to the Red Sea, ranks among the most important international trade routes. Ships passing through it continue toward the Suez Canal and then into the Mediterranean, avoiding the much longer route around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.

At its narrowest point, Bab el-Mandeb is about 29 kilometers wide, a feature that adds to its strategic significance. Data from Kpler cited by Reuters show that the volume of oil passing through the strait in June was equivalent to about 7% of global oil production.

The latest concerns stem from a shift in the balance of power in western Yemen. The Houthis’ further expansion along the Red Sea coastline has pushed the security of Bab el-Mandeb even higher on the European agenda.

Calls are intensifying in Rome for the current European presence to be expanded. Crosetto has insisted on increasing the number of naval units, also citing developments within the European EUNAVFOR Aspides operation.

Established in 2024, Operation Aspides has a defensive mandate and aims to safeguard freedom of navigation and protect merchant vessels passing through the Red Sea area.

For Italy, the threat is not limited to military or geopolitical concerns but also directly affects the economy. According to Assarmatori, approximately 40% of Italy’s foreign trade passes through the Suez Canal, which explains Rome’s insistence on a stronger naval presence in the region.

Greece’s interests are also closely tied to the security of this route because of the Greek fleet’s significant role in transporting oil, LNG, dry cargo and containers.

Crosetto’s public praise for Greece’s contribution came just days after a meeting in Rome between Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart. During the talks, both sides emphasized expanding bilateral defense cooperation.

As the Houthis strengthen their positions along Yemen’s western coast, Athens and Rome face the task of protecting one of the main trade and energy arteries linking Asia with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean.