US Navy coalition conducts Operation Guardian of Prosperity in the Red Sea and Indian waters

The US Naval Coalition conducted Operation Prosperity Guard from the coast of Yemen, to Indian waters

Operation Prosperity Guardian, the American-led coalition to defend shipping through the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden from Houthi attacks is showing major cracks just as it is forming. At the same time, the latest rash of drone strikes on commercial vessels appears to have spread far from Yemen's shores, to waters off India.

A total of twenty countries have agreed to take part in the multi-national naval security coalition, according to the Pentagon earlier this week, and some of those participants don't want to be named. One of the biggest issues is that of those 20, only a fraction will supply actual ships or other major assets to help the cause. In fact, many are just sending a handful of personnel. This is especially problematic now that Spain, Italy, and France have rejected the U.S. demand that their vessels fall under U.S. Navy command while deployed as part of the security operation.

According to Reuters, Spain is now stating they will only agree to a NATO or EU-led operation. Italy's frigate Virginio Fasan would still deploy to the region, but it would not do so as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian. Meanwhile, France is still going to participate, but it will not allow its vessels to come under U.S. command. This is a big problem as these countries, all NATO members, have highly capable ships with robust air defense capabilities to send. Regardless of how many countries agree to take part, this highly resource-intensive enterprise will need warships, and capable ones at that.

While wrangling any multi-national coalition for a tumultuous operation like this is never easy, these developments among America's closest allies are certainly setbacks. They also come as it appears that the threat to shipping is expanding far beyond the Bab el-Mandeb and its more immediate surroundings.

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