Italy Calls for More Ships to Protect Red Sea Shipping

Italy is calling for a stronger naval presence in the Red Sea as growing security concerns around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait threaten one of the world’s major commercial shipping routes.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Friday that more ships are needed to protect merchant vessels as the security situation around the southern Red Sea deteriorates. Italy is already part of the European Union’s EUNAVFOR ASPIDES maritime security operation, but Rome is also preparing its own naval response.

The latest move comes as Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have expanded their presence along the Red Sea coast, increasing concerns about attacks on commercial shipping and disruption to the route linking the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

Italy says more naval assets are needed

Crosetto told Reuters that Italy needs additional ships in the area to strengthen protection for merchant vessels.

He said some movement had occurred within the EU’s ASPIDES mission after Italy raised the issue, but argued that the existing naval presence remained insufficient.

Italy has not publicly specified how many additional vessels it believes would be required to secure the shipping route.

Crosetto also criticised what he described as delays caused by European decision-making, saying Italy could not wait indefinitely while the security situation changed.

Rome announced Thursday that it was preparing a naval mission to protect Italian commercial shipping in the region.

The exact composition, timing and operational rules of that mission have not been fully disclosed.

Bab el-Mandeb is a critical shipping chokepoint

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

At its narrowest point, the waterway is about 29 kilometres wide.

Ships using the route can continue north through the Red Sea to the Suez Canal, providing a shorter connection between Asia and Europe than sailing around the southern tip of Africa.

The route therefore matters not only to European economies but also to global trade.

Reuters reported that petroleum volumes passing through Bab el-Mandeb represented about 7% of global oil output in June, according to commodity data company Kpler.

The exact volume varies over time depending on security conditions, oil flows and shipping decisions.

Houthi advances increase shipping concerns

The latest concerns follow a series of territorial advances by Houthi forces in Yemen.

Reuters reported that the Iran-aligned group has moved along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and reached strategic islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Those developments have raised concern among shipping companies because the Houthis have previously attacked commercial vessels in and around the Red Sea.

The security situation has also become more complicated because the Red Sea crisis is now unfolding alongside the wider US-Iran conflict.

That combination creates the possibility of simultaneous disruption at two major maritime chokepoints: Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.

EU’s ASPIDES mission already protects merchant vessels

The European Union established EUNAVFOR ASPIDES in February 2024 in response to repeated Houthi attacks against international shipping.

The mission has a defensive mandate focused on protecting merchant vessels and supporting freedom of navigation.

The EU extended its mandate until February 28, 2027, with nearly €15 million allocated as a reference amount for common costs during the March 2026 to February 2027 period.

The mission has continued to provide close protection for commercial ships.

EU records show that merchant vessels completed Red Sea journeys safely under the protection of ASPIDES assets in September, including operations reported on September 5, 7 and 9.

An Italian frigate, the Bergamini, has also operated under ASPIDES and provided protection to merchant shipping in the region.

Italy wants a stronger response

Italy’s position reflects concern that the existing European naval presence may not be enough if the threat to commercial shipping increases.

Crosetto said Italy and Greece were the main EU countries actively contributing to security efforts in the area, while calling for additional ships.

The Italian government has not said that the EU mission has failed to protect shipping.

Rather, Rome is arguing that the changing security environment requires additional resources.

The distinction matters because ASPIDES continues to operate and has recently reported successful protection missions.

Italy’s trade is exposed to Red Sea disruption

The issue has direct economic implications for Italy.

According to the Italian shipowners’ association Assarmatori, about 40% of Italy’s trade with the rest of the world passes through the Suez Canal.

Any sustained disruption to the route could therefore affect delivery times, freight costs and supply chains serving Italian companies.

Longer shipping routes around Africa can increase fuel consumption, vessel requirements and transit times.

Those additional costs can eventually feed into prices for imported goods and industrial inputs.

Crosetto has warned that delays and higher transport costs could create wider economic consequences for Italy.

Shipping traffic is already under pressure

The latest developments are occurring against a broader decline in maritime traffic through the region.

Reuters reported that only 23 commodity vessels crossed the Bab el-Mandeb on Thursday, compared with a 10-day average of 26.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was considerably more disrupted, with only four commodity vessels crossing on Thursday against a 10-day average of 16.

The figures come from preliminary Kpler shipping data and may not capture vessels whose tracking systems were switched off.

They nevertheless illustrate the degree of caution among commercial operators.

Some shipping companies have begun returning selected container services to the Red Sea and Suez Canal despite the security risks, while others continue to avoid the route.

A difficult balance for shipping companies

Shipping companies now face competing risks.

Avoiding Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal can reduce exposure to attacks, but routing vessels around the Cape of Good Hope adds significant distance.

Using the Red Sea can shorten the journey but exposes crews and cargo to a security environment that remains unstable.

The availability of naval protection is therefore one factor companies may consider when deciding whether to use the route.

The EU says ASPIDES remains committed to protecting commercial shipping and supporting seafarers in the region.

The Red Sea crisis is linked to wider energy risks

The shipping concerns extend beyond containerised consumer goods.

Oil and gas shipments also depend on the region’s maritime infrastructure.

The situation is particularly sensitive because the Strait of Hormuz, another major energy chokepoint, is simultaneously experiencing a sharp reduction in shipping traffic.

Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia has been using ship-to-ship transfers off Oman to move crude from Gulf ports despite the risks surrounding Hormuz.

That means disruptions around Bab el-Mandeb could add another layer of pressure to an already strained global energy transport system.

What happens next?

Italy is expected to continue discussions with European partners while preparing its own naval options.

The government has not yet provided a detailed public timetable for the independent mission or identified all the vessels that could participate.

Meanwhile, the EU’s ASPIDES operation remains active and is authorised through February 2027.

The immediate issue is whether additional naval assets can provide enough protection to keep commercial traffic moving while avoiding a wider military escalation.

For shipping companies, the decision will depend not only on the number of warships available but also on the level of threat, insurance costs, freight rates and the ability of naval forces to respond quickly across a large maritime area.

For Italy and other European economies, the stakes extend beyond maritime security. A prolonged disruption around Bab el-Mandeb could affect trade routes, energy supplies, delivery times and the cost of moving goods between Asia and Europe.

The coming weeks will show whether the existing European naval mission can adapt to the changing threat or whether Italy’s call for more ships leads to a broader increase in the international maritime presence.