Yemeni researcher: The European Union's approach to dealing with the Houthi threat in the Red Sea has not ended the crisis.

A Yemeni researcher has criticized the European approach to addressing the threats posed by the Iran-backed Houthis to international shipping in the Red Sea, asserting that it has failed to mitigate the risks and end the Houthi crisis.

"Although Aspidis has helped secure the passage of hundreds of ships and intercepted numerous Houthi drone and missile attacks, it has not restored traffic levels to pre-crisis levels, nor has it ended the Houthi crisis," said Ibrahim Jalal, a nonresident scholar at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center.

In a recent analysis published by the Institute for International Political Studies ( ISPI ) in Italy on the escalation of the conflict in the Red Sea and the US targeting of the Houthis, he added, "The European Union has adopted an approach based on mitigating risks rather than eliminating threats, maintaining a defensive posture that reduces the value of deterrence, while avoiding involvement in US-led operations."

He explained that the "Aspedes" mission failed to link the maritime crisis to stability in Yemen by addressing the root causes of the crisis (i.e., Houthi control of territory).

However, Al-Jalal said there are still ways to support the institutional building of Yemen's military and security apparatus, expand intelligence sharing and arms interdiction efforts to disrupt Iranian arms supplies, and support the government in regaining full control of the territory as a strategic option.

The institute stated that after more than a year of interventions in the Red Sea—both defensive, such as the European Aspides mission, and offensive, including airstrikes supported by the United States and the United Kingdom—it has become clear that international efforts to restore maritime security have not fully contained the Houthi threat, let alone favored stability in Yemen.

He added, confirming this reality, that the Houthis have resumed their attacks on American ships in the Red Sea and have resumed attacks on Israel.

It's worth noting that the European Union launched a defensive naval mission called "Aspedes" on February 19, 2024, to counter Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The mission's mandate was renewed for an additional year, ending on February 28, 2026.

According to Aspidis, it provided support and protection to more than 650 commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, west of Yemen, during its first year of operation.

The Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on international shipping since November 2023, in a campaign they claim is in "support of the Palestinians in the war waged by Israel against Hamas in Gaza." These attacks forced shipping companies to divert ships from the Suez Canal to the longer route around Africa around the Cape of Good Hope, impacting global trade by delaying deliveries and increasing costs.