US allies are distancing themselves from the US-led naval foray into the Red Sea in response to Yemen's maritime blockade of Israel.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the coalition during a Middle East trip, claiming that countries including Great Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain had joined.
Greece and Australia were later added to the list, bringing the total to 20. But the Pentagon chief added at least eight more countries chose not to disclose their participation.
The UK committed the destroyer HMS Diamond to Operation Prosperity Guardian, operating within the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). Greece confirmed the deployment of one of its naval frigates to the Red Sea.
Other NATO allies are not even sending ships. Norway's participation is limited to 10 naval officers, seconded to the the CMF headquarters in Bahrain. The Netherlands is sending two staff officers and Denmark just one.
Existing naval coalitions in the region include Operation Atalanta, combating piracy off the Horn of Africa, and Operation Agenor, focusing on ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The CMF, led by the US, operates in the Red Sea through Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153).
In the aftermath of the Israel-Palestinian conflict that erupted on October 7, the Yemeni government led by the Ansarallah movement — dubbed the Houthis in the West after Yemen's dominant clan — declared that it would not allow shipping to and from Israeli ports to pass through the Red Sea until Tel Aviv ended its siege and assault on the Gaza Strip and allowed humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Yemen controls the eastern shore of the Bab al-Mandab strait, the southern entrance to the Red Sea. Its forces seized the Israeli-owned but foreign-flagged car transporter ship Galaxy Leader on November 19, and have targetted others with drone and missile attacks.
As tensions escalate major shipping companies, including Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and UK oil giant BP have taken proactive measures. They are redirecting their vessels away from the Red Sea, implementing coordinated efforts to mitigate risks posed by the ongoing conflict and protect maritime interests in the region.