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According to Reuters, Italy, France, and Spain’s refusal to join the US and UK attacks against Houthi terrorists in Yemen demonstrates “divisions” in the West over how to deal with the crisis in the Red Sea.
Government and diplomatic sources told the AFP that Rome, Paris, and Madrid prefer a more measured approach to regional affairs.
Washington and London launched large-scale strikes against the Houthis on Friday and Saturday in response to the group’s targeting of maritime lines in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as a show of support for the Palestinians amid Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
The United States announced on Friday that the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and Bahrain provided logistical and intelligence assistance for the aerial assault. On the same day, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and South Korea issued a united statement defending the conduct of the Americans and British.
However, significant US allies in Europe, like Italy, France, and Spain, did not participate in the bombardment or sign the statement.
According to a source in Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office, the country rejected to sign the declaration and, as a result, was not requested to participate in the airstrikes against Houthi targets.
However, an Italian government source provided a different account, saying that Rome refrained from taking part in the attacks because approving such a move in the parliament would’ve taken too long and overall preferred to pursue a “calming” policy in the Red Sea.
An unnamed French official explained to Reuters that Paris didn’t join the US and UK attacks due to concerns that by doing so, it would lose any leverage it had in talks to defuse tensions between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
A diplomat familiar with Paris’ stance told the agency that France also didn’t believe that the strikes could be deemed legitimate self-defense. The US and UK attacked Yemen without authorization from the UN Security Council, with Russia calling their actions illegal and disproportionate.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles stated on Friday that Madrid is not bombing the Houthis due to its “commitment to peace” in the Red Sea. “Every country must provide explanations for its conduct. “Spain will remain committed to peace and dialogue,” she stated.