Greece announced its joining a US-led maritime coalition to protect navigation in the Red Sea, after attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia on commercial ships.

It was decided to participate with a Greek Navy frigate in the coalition, at the request of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, according to Defense Minister Nikos Dendias.

Dendias stressed that Greece is a leading country in the field of maritime shipping and has a fundamental interest in confronting a “tremendous threat” to global maritime transport.

The coalition, according to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, included Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.