[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] US Requests 'Red Sea Protection'... Will Cheonghae Unit Be Dispatched?

Rebel Group Houthi Escalates Tensions with Civilian Ship Attacks
US Requests Protection of Red Sea Routes, Government Contemplating Response

The South Korean Navy's Cheonghae Unit, deployed in the Somali Aden Bay area, is expected to potentially expand its operational zone to the Red Sea. This comes as the government is reviewing ways to contribute to protecting the Red Sea route, where tensions have escalated due to attacks on civilian vessels by Yemen's pro-Iran Houthi rebel forces, following a request from the United States.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 21st, Heo Tae-geun, Director of Defense Policy at the Ministry, attended a virtual meeting on the 19th (local time) hosted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on "Protecting the Red Sea Route." At this meeting, Secretary Austin stated, "The reckless attacks by the Houthis are a serious international issue that requires a firm international response," urging contributions to a multinational fleet protecting civilian vessels in the Red Sea route. So far, countries that have pledged participation include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, and Italy.

Since declaring on the 14th of last month that they would attack vessels associated with Israel, which is at war with Hamas, the Houthis have attacked or threatened at least 10 vessels passing through the Red Sea. Among these were vessels unrelated to Israel, heightening the crisis in the Red Sea, a key trade route connecting the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. Consequently, major global shipping companies have successively suspended their vessels' operations in the Red Sea and opted for detours around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, raising concerns about increased freight rates, rising international oil prices, transportation delays, and disruptions to the global supply chain.

In response, the United States proposed a multinational security initiative called "Operation Prosperity Guardian," aiming to "restore safety in the Red Sea." It is expected to expand the existing Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Task Force 153 (CTF-153). CTF-153 is one of five fleets under the CMF, a coalition of navies from 39 countries operating in the Middle East, primarily tasked with responding to terrorism and piracy in the Red Sea and Aden Bay areas. If the Cheonghae Unit is dispatched to the Red Sea, the 41st deployment is likely. Currently, the Cheonghae Unit is equipped with the 41st deployment "Yang Man-chun" (DDH-I), a Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer that has been in active service since 2000. Some speculate that considering relations with Iran, which supports the Houthi rebels, the government might seek ways to contribute through diplomatic support or other means rather than dispatching the Cheonghae Unit.

A government official stated, "Regarding contribution plans related to the situation in the area, we will closely monitor the relevant circumstances and review them through consultations with related ministries in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.