It may even take a month to plan the deployment of a Greek frigate to the Red Sea, according to what a senior Navy source told military editors on the sidelines of the Christmas caroling at the Ministry of National Defence. Much was also said about the development of armaments which, while seemingly "frozen" after the success in ECOFIN to exclude defence spending from the deficit, will probably be put in a queue with relative prioritisation. The discussions were of course dominated by the issue of sending a frigate to the Red Sea.
What will happen relatively immediately is that a team will depart for the coordination centre of Operation Prosperity Protector.
The choice of the ship and its departure will be made after all the necessary data has been gathered and a decision has been taken by the participating countries on what "hat" to act. Will it be NATO? Will it be UN? Will it be EU?
In any case, the capabilities of the most modern frigates of the PN (MEKO) do not exceed that of point air defence and not area defence (as the big players involved have).
The case of the frigates Lemnos and Elli which have both Phalanx CIWS anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic defence systems has not been ruled out of the scenarios however sources who spoke to Pentapostagma were sceptical about sending ships of such age on such a demanding mission.
The US Pentagon has provided more details about the Prosperity Guardian
Houthi attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea are attacks against the international community and the international community is rallying to defend against missiles and drones targeting their vessels, Air Force Major General Pat Ryder said at a Pentagon press conference yesterday.
The press secretary explained how Operation Prosperity Guardian would work and called on the Houthis, whom he described as a group acting under Iranian direction , to stop targeting international trade.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the operation during a trip to the Middle East that concluded the night before last. The Secretary met with leaders in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Israel during the trip.
"The secretary emphasized the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and its key national partners to advance our shared goals of security and stability throughout the Middle East region," Ryder said.
Austin discussed the importance of freedom of navigation on international waterways and the threat to global trade posed by Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Between 10 and 15 percent of the world's shipping flows through the Red Sea, "and these attacks affect global trade, negatively impacting the economies of nations around the world and costing billions of dollars to commercial shipping companies," Ryder said.
In Bahrain, Austin announced Operation Prosperity Guardian. The operation is a new multinational security operation under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and led by Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea.
Austin also convened a teleconference from Bahrain with ministers, defense chiefs and senior representatives from more than 40 countries as well as representatives from the European Union and NATO to discuss the heightened maritime security threat in the Red Sea.
Austin used the forum to highlight the impact of Houthi attacks and called on delegates to act collectively. Nations must come together "to address this issue collectively, stressing that this is an international problem that requires an international response," Ryder said.
There have been steady results: To date, more than 20 nations have signed up, Ryder said. "In the coming days, the United States will continue to consult closely with our allies and partners who share the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation, and we expect to see the coalition continue to grow," he said.
The operation is a global response to an international issue and the United States will continue to "work with this coalition of the willing where countries can contribute what they believe they can," Ryder said. Some of those contributions are ships and aircraft and other contributions include personnel and other types of support.
"It is very important to understand that the Houthis are not just attacking one country, they are really attacking the international community," Ryder said. "They are attacking the economic well-being and prosperity of nations around the world. So, in fact, they are really becoming bandits along the international highway that is the Red Sea."
In order to promote this ratio, forces assigned to Operation Prosperity Guardian will serve to patrol the sea lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden "to respond to and assist as necessary commercial vessels transiting this vital international waterway," the general said.
"It's a defensive coalition designed to reassure global shipping and seafarers that the international community is there to help with safe passage."
The area is large, roughly the distance between Boston and Washington, D.C., and the operation will work to ensure safe passage all the way.
"The last thing I would say to that is that the Houthis need to stop these attacks and they need to stop them now," Ryder said. "That's clear and simple. They really need to ask themselves if they've bitten off more than they can chew when it comes to confronting the entire international community and negatively impacting billions and billions and billions of dollars in global trade, economic prosperity and international law."
