Italy Deploys Navy to Protect Shipping in Bab al-Mandeb

Italy is deploying warships to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the safe passage of its commercial vessels. Guido Crosetto, the Italian Defence Minister, announced the mobilization of the navy on September 17, stating that Rome will not wait for joint European Union decisions or the Aspides mission to act. He argued that bypassing European bureaucracy is necessary to avoid operational delays that could slow the economy and increase costs for households and businesses.

The decision follows a rapid offensive by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, who seized control of Yemen's entire western Red Sea coast and several strategic islands. This seizure grants the Houthis unrestricted access to the waterway, threatening international shipping and Saudi oil exports rerouted from the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at the Risorsa Mare forum in La Spezia, Crosetto emphasized that the Ministry of Defence now views the security of economic, energy, and digital infrastructure—specifically undersea data cables and energy links—as essential to national security. He warned that disruptions to these critical shipping corridors would drive up transport costs and inflation, potentially risking social cohesion and national stability.