Germany and its European Union partners are considering the possibility of launching a new maritime mission to protect commercial vessels at risk of attack in the Red Sea. The decision comes as the Iran-backed Houthis have launched a series of attacks on ships using missiles and drones, in retaliation for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. The United States has already launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to respond to these attacks, but some allies have been hesitant to join. The option of extending an existing EU anti-piracy mission, Atalanta, to protect Red Sea shipping is also being considered, along with the creation of a separate mission to tackle the problem.

German foreign ministry spokesperson has stated that the government is ready for this and emphasized the importance of the EU being able to act quickly in response to the ongoing attacks. While no decision has been made yet, the possibility of Germany's participation in the US-led mission is still under examination. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has expressed willingness to consider the creation of a different mission to address the issue, after Spain opposed expanding Atalanta and refused to join the US-led maritime force. The discussions in Brussels are ongoing, as the EU and its partners work to find a solution to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea.