EU extends Red Sea operations against Houthis for another year

European Union flags are seen waving outside the EU Commission Building in Brussels, Belgium. [Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency]

The European Union has extended its naval mission by another year to safeguard commercial shipping and uphold freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

In a press statement released on Wednesday, the EU Council announced that it had decided to extend “the mandate of the EU maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) until 28 February 2026.”

The statement added that the decision followed a strategic review of the naval operation, with a reference budget exceeding €17 million.

It also noted that the council had decided to enhance ASPIDES by enabling it to gather intelligence and collect data related to arms trafficking and shadow fleets.

The EU initially launched its naval mission, ASPIDES, on 19 February 2024, as a defensive maritime security operation to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea and safeguard freedom of navigation from attacks by the Houthis.

The mission’s headquarters is based in Larissa, Greece.

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