Denmark has announced plans to send a frigate to the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter Houthi attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea.
The decision was made in consultation with the Danish Foreign Policy Council, and comes as Houthi militants continue to carry out drone and missile attacks on ships in the southern Red Sea, with the U.S. carrying out a total of 22 attacks since October 19. It took place amidst reports of attacks or attempted attacks.
Denmark’s support for the operation comes as Danish shipping giant Maersk, the world’s second-largest shipping company, continues to send ships around the Cape of Good Hope as other shipping companies avoid the area. This is also due to the fact that the airline has chosen to resume traffic in the area.
Denmark’s Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said: “We are concerned about the serious situation in the Red Sea, where unprovoked attacks on civilian vessels continue.” “Denmark already contributes to maritime security in the region, and the government wants to increase its contribution by deploying Danish frigates.”
The Danish frigate is scheduled to take part in Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) in late January, pending approval from the Danish Parliament. The naval coalition was established by the United States earlier this month and aims to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is noteworthy that Denmark was not initially included in the list of 10 countries participating in this operation, but the OPG is part of an existing multinational maritime coalition led by the United States known as the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). It becomes. Currently, Denmark has three staff members assigned to the CMF, one of whom is assigned to the OPG.
The Ministry of Defense shared images of the Absalon-class frigate HDMS Esbern Snare The deployment announcement did not mention the specific names of the frigates being sent to take part in the operation.
“Attacks in and around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden threaten maritime security, our shipping industry and global trade,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement. “As a major maritime nation, we have a responsibility to strengthen our maritime security. We are currently doing that with the contribution of frigates to the American-led coalition. A situation where security is already strengthened. If the Houthis attack international shipping below, they cannot go unchallenged.”