Key facts
- Italy is preparing to deploy naval assets to protect its merchant shipping.
- Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announced the decision to mobilize the navy.
- The move is in response to mounting security concerns in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Houthi advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast increase fears for shipping.
- At least 112,000 people have been displaced inside Yemen in the past two weeks.
- Nearly 3,000 people have fled Yemen by sea to Djibouti.
Italy is preparing to deploy naval assets to safeguard its merchant shipping amid escalating security concerns in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announced. Crosetto and Italy's chief of defence staff have agreed to mobilize the navy to prepare "whatever is necessary" to guarantee the secure transit of Italian vessels.
Fears for shipping in the Red Sea have surged after the Iran-aligned Houthis seized control of parts of Yemen's coast that overlook the Bab el-Mandeb, a crucial chokepoint for global trade. The Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure while advancing along Yemen's Red Sea coast. Responding to the Houthi offensive, Saudi and Yemeni air forces have bombarded Houthi targets.
Crosetto stated that bureaucratic delays in decision-making could aggravate the complex situation, with direct consequences for Italy's economy and its citizens. He emphasized that disruptions to major shipping lanes would drive up transport costs, delay deliveries, and ultimately push higher prices onto families and businesses, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable. He also highlighted the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure, such as data cables and energy links, underscoring the importance of monitoring and protecting the seas for Italy's security and prosperity.
Separately, at least 112,000 people have been displaced inside Yemen within the last two weeks as fighting continues along the country's west coast, while nearly 3,000 have fled by sea to Djibouti, the United Nations migration agency said.