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 control of coastal areas overlooking the strait has increased fears for shipping.
- Disruptions to shipping lanes could increase transport costs and prices for consumers.
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 on Thursday. 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 this month 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. Crosetto stated that bureaucratic delays in decision-making could aggravate the complex situation, with direct consequences for Italy's economy and its citizens.