Middle East
Frigate Hessen will soon be heading towards the Red Sea
The Bundeswehr could take part in the military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea with the frigate Hessen. photo
© Mohssen Assanimoghaddam/dpa
Germany wants to take part in the planned EU military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea. A ship is already being brought into position so that it can be deployed quickly.
For the planned German participation in an EU military operation to secure merchant shipping The frigate “Hessen” is scheduled to set sail from Wilhelmshaven in the Red Sea next week.
According to dpa information, the ship is scheduled to leave on February 8th and can therefore be in the operational area at the end of the month. The Bundeswehr is thus creating the conditions to be able to take on an order immediately following a mandate from the Bundestag.
Plans for the EU military operation include sending several European warships and airborne early warning systems to the region to protect cargo ships. These are then intended to protect merchant ships there from attacks by the militant Islamist Houthis from Yemen.
The militia wants to force an end to the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip by shelling ships, which followed the unprecedented massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 7th.
Decision this month
According to Defense State Secretary Siemtje Möller, an EU decision on the mission is expected by February 19th at the latest. The SPD politician said on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels that there could then be an accelerated discussion by the Bundestag immediately afterwards.
The “Hessen” is equipped, among other things, with anti-aircraft missiles. The ship was specifically designed for escort and maritime control. According to the Bundeswehr, it can use its special radar to monitor airspace the size of the entire North Sea.