Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called on the European Union to maintain and strengthen the Aspides mission concerning commercial maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Tajani said on Sunday that Italy was not at war in the Red Sea.
Tajani said the European mission had been established for defensive purposes to protect commercial vessels passing through the region against possible attacks by the Houthis. He said Italy would continue supporting Aspides if the situation in the strait deteriorated.
Forty percent of Italy’s commercial maritime traffic and 60 percent of goods exported to Asia are transported through the Red Sea.
Tajani’s remarks came after an attack attributed to the Houthis targeted Taif Air Base in Saudi Arabia. An Italian F-2000 Eurofighter fighter jet that was on the ground during the attack was reported damaged.
Call for European countries to support Aspides
The Italian foreign minister said they had been asking other countries for months to contribute to the Aspides mission. Tajani said he would raise the request again next week during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.
Tajani said European countries should send additional naval assets to the mission or contribute to the operation’s costs, adding that Aspides must continue and be further strengthened.
Tajani is expected to raise the issue at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting and the Rome Food Security Coalition meeting to be held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Freedom of navigation and the security of maritime transport will also be discussed by the coalition, which was launched by Italy and Croatia.
Iran and raw materials agreement
Tajani said he might meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York and planned to sign a raw materials agreement aimed at improving supply security. He said the agreement would be linked to the “Pax Silica” initiative, which covers critical minerals such as rare earth elements.
Regarding the conflict in Iran, Tajani said Italy did not support the process and favored peace. He said he would meet with Iran’s foreign minister in New York despite his critical stance toward Tehran’s nuclear program.
Canada proposal and United Nations agenda
Tajani also backed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to make Canada an associated partner of the European Union. He described Canada as Europe’s strategic partner and a member of NATO and the G7.
The Italian foreign minister said his address to the United Nations General Assembly would focus on cybersecurity, hybrid threats and artificial intelligence.
