On the 18th local time, Yemen's Houthi armed forces attacked two ships in the Red Sea waters again. A few hours later, U.S. Defense Secretary John Austin announced the formation of a multinational naval force to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea. For the United States announced the formation of the so-called "Red Sea Escort coalition", according to Reuters reported on December 20, although France, Italy, Spain and other Western countries announced to join, but in fact, the support is very limited, and the relevant Middle Eastern countries are cold response.
The French Defense Ministry said France would support operations to ensure freedom of navigation in and around the Red Sea, but its ships would remain under French command. France currently has only one frigate in the Red Sea, and it is unclear whether France will deploy more naval vessels to the Red Sea. The Italian navy will send a frigate to the Red Sea to protect its national interests, and the move is unrelated to the so-called Red Sea escort operation, the defense Ministry said. The Spanish Defense Ministry said Spain would only take part in a NATO-led or EU-coordinated convoy and would not participate unilaterally in the US-led mission. In addition, the Netherlands and Norway sent only men and not ships, a combined 12 troops to participate in the operation.
For the United States announced the formation of the so-called "escort coalition", the Middle East countries are even less responsive. So far, only Bahrain has announced its participation, but it has not announced how. Saudi Arabia, a regional power in which the United States has placed high hopes, has not responded despite the United States urging it to "cooperate in maintaining maritime security." According to the British "Guardian" reported on the 20th, Egypt, whose interests were greatly damaged in the crisis of the Red Sea waterway, also did not join the so-called escort coalition.
"This is a deeply uncomfortable and embarrassing moment for most Arab countries, which do not want to be seen as supporting Israel's destruction of Gaza or its brutal tactics," said David Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, a London-based international affairs think tank.
