By Riffat Kausar,
SNN News Finland
The Saudi-led naval coalition in the Red Sea may soon have the European Union as an observer. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday, 28 September 2026, that the bloc is seeking observer status amid continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Kallas spoke in Brussels before a meeting of EU defence ministers, Bloomberg reported. She also said more ships are asking for protection in the Red Sea and that the EU’s own naval mission, Aspides, needs additional vessels to do its job.
What the EU Wants From the Saudi-Led Naval Coalition
The coalition is formally known as the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition. Saudi Arabia launched it in Riyadh in late July, when representatives of 43 countries and the EU attended and 14 countries signed a founding statement, Euronews reported. Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Djibouti were among the 14 signatories.
Its stated purpose is to protect freedom of navigation and energy supply routes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Saudi Arabia is the founding and lead state and will host its permanent headquarters.
It is unclear what observer status would mean in practice for either the EU or Aspides, according to a wire report. Available coverage does not say whether the coalition has accepted the EU’s application.
Why Aspides Needs More Ships
Aspides is the EU’s defensive naval operation in the Red Sea. It was established in February 2024 after repeated Houthi attacks on international shipping, and its mandate includes accompanying vessels and protecting them from attacks at sea.
Kallas said six warships are currently deployed under the mission. A week earlier, she said Aspides was originally meant to have at least ten ships and that the situation is now more serious, according to Bloomberg.
Bloomberg described the mission’s core as mainly three Italian and Greek ships, with occasional support from other member states. It said EU members had so far shown no willingness to increase the deployment.
On Monday, Kallas urged countries to redirect warships pledged to a planned Strait of Hormuz coalition, which is not yet operational, to Aspides instead, Bloomberg and Streamlinefeed reported. She said the ships could later transfer to that coalition once it is running. She said the EU is receiving many requests to escort vessels but lacks ships able to carry out the task through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia Raise the Stakes
The Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on 20 July and claimed an attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the port of Jazan, Euronews reported. Riyadh has since launched air strikes against Houthi military targets, the outlet said. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi threatened Saudi Arabia with full escalation hours before the coalition was announced, according to the same report.
The coalition held its fourth planning meeting in Jeddah earlier this month, with 154 naval commanders, military planners, ambassadors and EU representatives from 41 countries, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, as reported by This Is Beirut.
Kallas called the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia unacceptable and said they were disrupting the global economy. She added that Aspides had raised the alert level of its vessels while continuing to escort commercial ships.
The Red Sea route has gained importance since the US-Iran conflict began in February, which caused partial and full closures of the Strait of Hormuz, The Hill reported.
What Happens Next for the EU and the Coalition
No decision on the EU’s observer application or on new Aspides deployments had been announced at the time of writing. Any increase would depend on member states supplying ships, which Kallas says the mission urgently needs.
Kallas has said the EU is working closely with partners, but her immediate focus is making better use of naval assets that are already on offer. The Houthis have not been quoted responding to the EU’s move in the coverage available. This is a developing story.
Key Facts
- On 28 September 2026, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU is seeking observer status in the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition.
- Kallas said more ships are requesting protection in the Red Sea and that Aspides needs additional vessels.
- Kallas said six warships are deployed under Aspides, which she said was originally meant to have at least ten.
- The coalition was launched in Riyadh in late July, with 14 countries signing a founding statement, according to Euronews.
- It is unclear what observer status would mean operationally, and no decision on the application had been reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the EU joining the Saudi-led naval coalition?
Not as a full member. Kaja Kallas said the EU is seeking observer status, and no decision had been reported.
What is the Saudi-led naval coalition?
It is the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition, launched by Saudi Arabia in July to protect shipping and energy routes in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden.
What is Operation Aspides?
It is the EU’s defensive naval mission, launched in February 2024, that escorts and protects commercial ships in the Red Sea region.
How many ships does Aspides have?
Kallas said six warships are deployed. She said the mission was originally meant to have at least ten.
Why does the EU want more ships?
Kallas said more vessels are requesting protection and that the EU lacks enough ships able to escort them through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
What Happens Next for the EU and the Coalition
For now, the EU’s position rests on two points Kallas has stated publicly: it is seeking observer status in the Saudi-led naval coalition, and Aspides needs more ships to meet rising escort requests. Whether the coalition accepts the application, and whether member states send more vessels, remains to be seen.
Read more in our Hungary and European political news coverage.
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