The EU is incapable of defending itself

For years, European leaders have recognised that ‘in a world of carnivores, vegetarians have a very tough time of it,’ as Germany’s former Foreign Minister Siegmar Gabriel put it in 2018. Six years later, as a handful of well-armed Houthi pirates all but shut down maritime trade on the Red Sea, Europe is finding itself to be a vulnerable vegetarian once again.  

To prevent the Houthis blocking trade through the Suez canal, ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’ was launched in December. Although it is ostensibly a multinational coalition, in reality it is an American project, led by a US carrier strike group. The UK has sent one ship, as have Denmark and Greece. Norway, in turn, is sending only ten staff officers, while Netherlands is only sending two (yes, you read that correctly). Independently, Italy and France (which has a military base in Abu Dhabi) are deploying a frigate each to help police maritime trade routes in the region.