As announced by EUROPE (see EUROPE 13347/27), the European Union has officially established its military maritime security operation to preserve freedom of navigation in the context of the crisis in the Red Sea, called EUNAVFOR ASPIDES.
This operation is intended to contribute to maritime security along the main maritime routes in an area including the Straits of Bab el-Mandab and Hormuz, international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, according to the legal act published in the Official Journal of the EU on Monday 12 February.
EUNAVFOR ASPIDES’ mission will be to accompany ships in the area of operation, provide maritime situational awareness in the area of operation and protect ships against multi-sector attacks at sea, “in full compliance with international law, including the principles of necessity and proportionality”, in a sub-area of the area of operation.
The Operation Commander is Greek Commodore Vasileios Gryparis, and the Operation Headquarters are in Larissa, Greece. Command of the force should return to Italy.
According to the legal act, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES will work in close coordination with the EU’s military operation to contribute to maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, and will cooperate with the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, with the combined maritime forces and with States willing to contribute to maritime security in its area of operation.
ASPIDES’ initial mandate is for 12 months from the date of its launch, and the reference amount for common costs is €8 million. The launch should be decided at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 February.
See the legal act: https://aeur.eu/f/at9 (original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)