Kallas calls for tougher Russia sanctions and bigger EU Red Sea fleet
The EU's foreign policy chief wants sanctions renewed sooner and more than 10 extra naval and air assets sent to the Red Sea
Published
Map: The Red Sea, marking Bab el Mandeb
Kaja Kallas said the European Union needs to impose greater costs on Russia, arguing Moscow is taking greater risks and that the bloc should move up the rollover of its existing sanctions rather than wait out the usual timeline. She also said the EU's Red Sea naval operation needs reinforcement, calling for more than 10 additional naval and air assets.
The Red Sea operation has come under pressure as Houthi forces have made gains along the coast. Saudi exports through the Bab el-Mandeb strait have run at under a third of this year's seven-day average since early August.
Kallas's push comes days after President Trump was expected to sign the Russia sanctions bill on Friday, September 18, according to CNN.
Kallas is signaling that the EU will harden its stance on both Russia sanctions and military support, a shift that lands just as the bloc prepares to renew its restrictions this week and Ukraine pushes for unconditional diplomatic talks. Toughening the EU's position alongside the US measure raises the chance of near-term escalation rather than a swift move toward a ceasefire.