Brussels wants to launch a bespoke EU mission to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

In a document dated January 10 and seen by Euronews, the EU’s diplomatic service proposes sending “at least three” warships with “multi mission capabilities” to the region as early as next month.

The document recommends the “fast-tracking implementation” of an operation mandated to act “from the Red Sea to the Gulf,” in order to protect maritime security in a region plagued by instability in recent weeks.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Why not let Liberia, Malta, Bahamas, and wherever else those ships are flagged with deal with it? It is the duty of the countries under which the ships are registered to take care of the protection in international waters. How many ships running in the Persian Golf/Red Sea/Horn of Africa region are actually registered to a (non-Malta) EU state or the USA?

    Tell them that if you want cheap, you get cheap.

    • jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Just because it flies under a certain flag doesn’t mean it only serves that country.

      Also, the people on those ships deserve the right to work safely, regardless of who is providing that protection.

      That being said, other countries that rely on these ships should be helping as well. US warships are doing it to prove their weapons and train the crew, but in the end it’s all paid for by the US taxpayers.

      • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        If flies under that flag just to save on taxes and labor laws. The ship owners don’t want safety, or at least they don’t want to pay for it. Let them suffer. Care for the crews, if possible, but let the owners rot.

        • KevonLooney@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          The best way to protect the ship and then take the ship in tow. They can be released in exchange for tax concessions from the Bahamas.

        • jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          The ship owners don’t want safety, or at least they don’t want to pay for it. Let them suffer.

          The ship owners (the company owners) are more than likely not on that ship. It’s just regular workers.

          There’s no way to “let them rot” without risking the lives of the people on the ship.

          I get that Lemmy has a very diehard “eat the rich” stance, and I do too, but make sure it’s directed at the correct people.

      • HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        While its an unsympathetic way to look at it the other poster is correct. Its like saying the EU should pay for insurance claims in China when work is outsourced because its cheaper.

        One of the unfortunate consequences of modern globalization is that we are now starting to move away from multilateralism as each country moves to secure their own interests and citizens… and the massive flaws in the design of the UN security council has left them impotent.