Greece approves joining EU mission in Red Sea, deploying navy frigate to protect commercial vessels

Greece on Monday approved joining the European Union mission in the Red Sea and deploying a navy frigate to protect commercial vessels.

The approval to send the Greek Navy's Hydra frigate to join the EU's Mission Aspides in the Red Sea was made at a meeting of the National Security Council (KYSEA) chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said government spokesperson Pavlos Marikanis.

The country's participation in the mission to protect navigation freedom in the Red Sea region has been approved, he said in a statement issued after the meeting in Athens.

Last week, the EU formally launched Mission Aspides, aimed at protecting commercial vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks.

The Houthis have targeted cargo ships in the Red Sea that are owned or operated by Israeli companies or transport goods to and from Israel in solidarity with Gaza, which has been under extensive Israeli bombardment since Oct. 7.

With tensions escalating due to joint US-UK airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, the group declared that it considered all American and British ships legitimate targets.