00:03Music
00:22Italy is moving warships toward one of the world's most critical shipping choke points,
00:28the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
00:31Italy's defense minister Guido Crocetto says the Italian navy is preparing to protect and escort commercial vessels
00:40as Houthi threats continue to put shipping in the Red Sea region at risk.
00:46Crocetto says Italy has the capability to guarantee the safe passage of its ships
00:52and insists Rome will not simply wait for the European Union to make its next move.
00:58The warning comes as Italy raises concerns over delays and limited naval resources within the European Union's Aspides mission.
01:08And Italy has already taken a step forward.
01:11The Italian Frem-class frigate Carlo Bergamini escorted the Italian merchant vessel Jolly Oro through the Bab al-Mandeb.
01:22Now, Rome is calling for more warships in the region.
01:26Crocetto says the security situation requires a stronger naval presence,
01:31while Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani has also urged other European countries to contribute more ships.
01:39The stakes are enormous.
01:42Bab al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden
01:46and serves as a vital gateway for ships traveling between Asia, Europe and the Suez Canal.
01:53Any prolonged disruption can mean longer routes, higher shipping costs and delays for goods reaching European markets.
02:01For Italy, the issue is particularly significant because a substantial portion of its international trade relies on the Suez route.
02:10But this is not being presented as an offensive deployment.
02:14The stated objective is defensive, protecting commercial shipping and maintaining freedom of navigation.
02:21The exact number of Italian warships, the duration of the mission, and the rules governing the mission are still being
02:29worked out by the Italian government and parliament.
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