Demonstrating Egypt’s commitment to maritime security, Commander of Egyptian Naval Forces Rear Adm. Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa discussed ways to support European Maritime Operations in the northwest Indian Ocean and Red Sea in April 2024.
Rear Adm. Ashraf met with Rear Adm. Vasileios Gryparis, Operation Commander of Aspides, the European Union naval mission in the Red Sea established in response to Houthi attacks on shipping in late 2023.
As of April 2024, seven countries contributed to the European naval operations off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea.
The two commanders discussed promoting global cooperation and partnership, shoring up stability and security in the Middle East, and safeguarding maritime security in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Adm. Ashraf accompanied his guests on a tour that included inspecting Egyptian ships to display their readiness, capabilities, cutting-edge equipment and well-trained Sailors.
A month earlier, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Slaars, commander of French naval force deployed in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, also met with Rear Adm. Ashraf. One big topic was cooperation between Egyptian and French naval forces to stop states and nonstate actors from smuggling and other illegal activities.
Egypt’s participation in regional maritime security extends to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which it joined in April 2021. Covering 3.2 million square miles of international waters, CMF operates several task forces that patrol some of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, including the Suez Canal, Bab el-Mandeb and Straits of Hormuz.
To strengthen maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden, CMF established Combined Task Force 153 in April 2022.
Houthi attacks on international shipping — using weapons and technology supplied by Iran — have damaged Egypt’s economy. As of March 2024, Suez Canal revenue, accounting for 2% of the country’s national gross domestic product, recorded declines of up to 50%, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Finance.
Sources: Egyptian State Information Service, Egyptian Armed Forces, Alhurra, Combined Maritime Forces, Atlantic Council, U.S. Navy, Container News