U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, rear, addresses members of an international maritime task force protecting commercial ships in the Red Sea at U.S. Navy Central Command headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Due to a sharp increase in attacks on commercial vessels transiting there in the last few weeks the U.S. has announced a new mission, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to get additional countries to send ships and intelligence support. (AP Photo/Tara Copp)