29/01/25 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 28 January, the ambassadors of the EU Member States, meeting within the Political and Security Committee, approved the appointment of Commodore Michail Pantouvakis as EU Force Commander for the European Union maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) from 2 February 2025. He will succeed his fellow citizen Konstantinos Pitykakis, who has been in post since 1 November 2024. The ambassadors also extended Peter Kolding’s mandate as head of the EU’s CSDP mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) from 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026 (see EUROPE 13339/38). He has been in that position since 11 April 2023. The mission has also been extended until 31 January 2027 (see EUROPE 13567/34). (CG)