EU expands mandates of naval missions in Red Sea

The European Union has announced an expansion of the mandates for its naval operations Aspides and Atalanta in the Red Sea to ensure freedom of navigation in the region, the EU Council said in a statement.

“The Council today adopted two decisions amending the mandates of the EU’s naval operations EUNAVFOR ASPIDES and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA,” the press release reads.

The Aspides operation, established in February 2024 in response to Houthi attacks on international vessels, will now include:

• Collection and exchange of data on suspicious activity related to critical underwater infrastructure;

• Training of Djibouti’s naval forces;

• Cooperation with Yemen’s coast guard;

• Strengthening ties with other EU initiatives, including the Crimario project.

The updated mandate for Atalanta in the western Indian Ocean and Red Sea includes:

• Suspension of monitoring illegal charcoal trade;

• Continuation of tasks monitoring arms trafficking, drugs, and illegal fishing;

• Engagement with EU initiatives, including Crimario;

• Collection of information on suspicious activity related to underwater infrastructure.