Denmark has a frigate ivor whitfeld It arrived in the Red Sea over the weekend to take part in a US-led security mission. Unlike other European Union member states such as France, Germany and Italy, Denmark has chosen to participate in the US defense mission Operation Prosperity Guardian.
“The situation in and around the Red Sea remains extremely alarming. Houthi attacks on international shipping have now continued for more than two months. Americans spearhead the Danish-led Operation Prosperity Guardian. As a maritime power, we naturally support this,” Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.
The Danish Parliament formally approved the mission on February 6th after a second reading of the proposal.frigate ivor whitfeldCommissioned in 2011 as one of three Danish air defense frigates, she officially entered service on February 8, arriving at the Red Sea Danish Defense Report. The ship departed Denmark on January 29, pending approval, and was preparing for final confirmation of her mission in the Mediterranean.
“Continued attacks on ships by the Houthis, including Danish frigates, are creating an unsustainable situation in the Red Sea.” ivor whitfeld This will contribute to future solutions,” Secretary of Defense Fleming Lentfer said. “This is a demanding mission that may require the use of force not only for self-defense, but also for the protection of civilian vessels.”
The command said the ship has a self-defense and extended self-defense mission, meaning the frigate and its crew can use force to protect themselves and nearby vessels from attack. She operates with a crew of approximately 175 people and is equipped with a Seahawk helicopter.
In addition to this ship, Denmark is also sending staff to the US-led strike coalition. Additionally, with parliamentary approval, the frigate will also be able to participate in new EU-led maritime operations in and around the Red Sea to strengthen maritime security.
The Danish Ministry of Defense emphasizes that Denmark has contributed several times since 2008 to various efforts in the region, including security operations to protect against Somali pirates.of ivor whitfeld previously deployed to the Strait of Hormuz on a four-month mission from August to December 2020. She was Denmark’s contribution to Operation AGENOR as part of EMASOH (European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz), a purely European mission established by French initiative after the events in the Strait of Hormuz in 2019 .
In this mission, the ship was assigned to monitor and establish the maritime situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Denmark’s Ministry of Defense reports that it has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz 16 times, spanning more than 25,000 nautical miles.
Both Germany and Italy have confirmed that they are preparing to join the EU-led initiative in the Red Sea, which is expected to be approved later this month. Following a process similar to Denmark, Germany sent a frigate to the Mediterranean last week so it could be put in place once the EU confirms its efforts. Italy is already working with the EUNAVFOR mission “Atalanta” providing security on the Somali coast, and France has been operating independently in the Red Sea since November 2023.