U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter an international challenge due to the recent attacks on merchant vessels navigating the Red Sea.

The surge in reckless Houthi attacks emerging from Yemen poses a significant threat to the unhindered movement of commerce, jeopardizing the safety of innocent mariners and infringing upon international law. The Red Sea, a crucial waterway, has historically played a vital role in ensuring freedom of navigation and serves as a critical global trade route.

The call to action seeks to uphold the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation and unite partner nations to address the challenge presented by this non-state actor, which is launching ballistic missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) at merchant vessels from various nations lawfully traversing international waters.

Operation Prosperity Guardian is a collaborative effort involving several nations, including the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain. The primary objective is collectively addressing security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The overarching goal is to safeguard freedom of navigation for all countries while enhancing regional security and promoting prosperity in the area.

“This is an international challenge that demands collective action. Therefore, today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of its Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea,” said Secretary Austin. (Press Release)

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Post Image- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103), left, operates in the Red Sea, May 1, 2023, while supporting the Department of State’s efforts to evacuate U.S. citizens and others who have requested departure from Sudan. (Image Credit: U.S. Africa Command)