Shippingtelegraph: EU extends Red Sea naval mission to protect shipping until 2027
The Council of the European Union has extended the mandate of its “Aspides” naval mission in the Red Sea until Feb. 28, 2027, the bloc announced on Monday.
In a statement, the EU Council said the operation “Aspides” launched in February 2024 to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis would continue until 2027.
The extension was agreed by the Council of the EU after a strategic review of the operation, the European Council announced on Monday.
The Council also agreed on a financial reference amount of nearly €15m to cover the common costs of the operation for the period from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027.
A further strategic review of the operation will be conducted in 2026/27.
Furthermore, the Council decided that, in order to ensure maritime situation awareness in the area of operation, Operation Aspides should be able to collect information, in addition to data necessary to protect vessels, on arms trafficking and on shadow fleets with a view to sharing this information with member states, the European Commission, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The mission was set up in response to heightened security threats affecting merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters.
Aspides mission provides defensive maritime security, protects vessels, and supports stability along key maritime routes in accordance with international law.
The operation was launched in February 2024 in response to Houthi attacks on international shipping.
It is active along the main sea lines of communication in the Baab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf, and ensures an EU naval presence in the area where numerous Houthi attacks have targeted international commercial vessels since October 2023.
Headquartered in Larissa, Greece, the mission is commanded by Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis.
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