Denmark joins the international coalition protecting shipping in the Red Sea against attacks by the Yemeni Houthis. The country is sending a frigate to the area, says Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund. Earlier this month, the United States initiated the coalition, which carries out patrols in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
If the Danish parliament agrees, Denmark will send the frigate to the Red Sea at the end of January. The Netherlands has also joined Operation Prosperity Guardian, as the international operation is called. The Netherlands does not send its own ship, but provides staff officers to the mission.
Yemen’s Houthi government has been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea with drones and missiles since the beginning of this month. According to the Houthis, these are retaliation for Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. Initially they targeted ships with a link to Israel, but later the Houthis also attacked ships that had nothing to do with Israel.
A number of major shipping companies subsequently decided to avoid the Red Sea. This shipping route is of great economic importance: approximately 12 percent of world trade passes through the Red Sea. Due to the establishment of the international patrol mission, shipping companies such as the Danish Maersk are now allowing their ships to sail across the Red Sea again.
Daan de Vries
