Spain announced that it will not participate in the international coalition to protect shipping traffic in the Red Sea in the face of Houthi attacks in Yemen, but it will not oppose the participation of other European countries within the framework of a specific mission.

The Spanish Ministry of Defense said that it opposes the expansion of the European "Atalant Mission", which has been combating piracy in the Indian Ocean since 2008.

The Ministry indicated that the recent resumption of piracy in the region requires maximum investment in this mission. She also stressed that "the nature and objectives of the Atalant mission have nothing to do with what we aim to achieve in the Red Sea."

The Ministry stressed that this special mission must have its own scope of work, means and objectives determined by the competent bodies in the European Union.