ROME – The Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, has confirmed the year-long deployment of an Italian warship “Federico Martinengo” next Sunday off the coast of Djibouti. This is Italy’s contribution to a Greek led plan to allow cargo ships a safe passage through the Red Sea, as Houthi attacks increase.

 The exhibition missile frigate is already deployed in the Red Sea as Italy’s contribution to the European-led “Atalanta” operation against piracy, based off the coast of Somalia.

 Crosetto confirmed Italy’s involvement in the “Aspides” mission, led by Greece, to the Defence Committees of the House and Senate after meeting with colleagues in Brussels. Currently, only Greece, Italy, Frace, Belgium, and Germany are participating.

 Alongside the warship, Crosetto has suggested that, when possible, Italy will also provide advanced radar aircrafts of the Gulfstream G550 CAEW model. The G550s are equipped with a multi-sensor system with air surveillance, command, control, and communications functions. These aircrafts are already active on NATO’s eastern front.

 Crosetto added that the Aspides coalition hopes for “the participation of moderate Arab countries” in this “collective security effort” against Houthi attacks.

 The Minister of Defence cited the effects of these attacks on Mediterranean and global trade as the reason for the naval deployment. The ship's mission will be to guarantee the freedom of trade roots, protect merchant ships against Houthi attacks and carr out maritime surveillance. 

 He noted that the Houthi don’t target Russian or Chinese ships passing through the Red Sea, which he labelled as having “a violent and asymmetrical impact on us and our economies” and enabling “Moscow and Beijing to prevail in international competition and gain new spheres of influence.”

 Approximately 12 percent of all global trade passes through the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

 khg