Italy’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, says European Union governments have not taken concrete steps to strengthen shipping protection in the Red Sea, despite his calls to expand the EU’s naval effort.
Crosetto tells Reuters that he has “yet to see anything concrete,” while also saying the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, understands the importance of Italy’s request. The remarks come after Crosetto urged the EU to bolster its Aspides mission, which began in 2024 to help protect commercial shipping from attacks attributed to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis. Outlets frame the same issue as either a lack of follow-through by EU states and the need for stronger commitment to the Aspides operation.
