Members of the European Union have given their initial support to create a mission to deter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, according to diplomats.
The naval mission will aim to protect vessels passing through the shipping route.
The diplomats said the goal was to establish the mission by 19 February, at the latest.
It will become operational quickly after and work in co-ordination with other partners in the region, it added.
Since November, the Iran-backed Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they are avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas.
But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping in a key route for global trade.
US-led air strikes targeted Houthi positions in Yemen last week.
In response, the Houthis launched a missile at a US-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, further raising the risks in the conflict.
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