BRUSSELS Dec. 16 () –
This Monday, the European Union adopted the extension until February 2027 of the ‘Atalanta’ naval mission to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia, which has a Spanish presence, in addition to promoting a change of mandate to strengthen cooperation with the ‘Aspides’ mission in the Red Sea.
Specifically, the maritime operation will be in force at least until February 28, 2027 and its extension has been made to coincide with the extension of the military training mission in Somalia, EUTM Somalia, and the institutional support operation EUCAP Somalia, with the objective of strengthening the EU’s response to an evolving security context and enhancing its role as a maritime security provider.
Similarly, the 27 have agreed to expand the mandate of ‘Atalanta’ so that it can also operate in the Gulf of Aden and parts of the Red Sea, where the EU launched operation ‘Aspides’ to protect commercial ships from attacks. huthies.
“With the new mandate, the operation will continue to fight against piracy and reduce illicit trafficking at sea. Synergies with the maritime operation ‘Aspides’ will be enhanced,” the Council explained in a statement.
Facing attacks by Yemeni insurgents at the end of 2023, the EU launched a new mission in the Red Sea to escort cargo ships on their route to the Suez Canal. Although in a first attempt the 27 studied redirecting the ‘Atalanta’ mission to the region, this option was discarded due to Spain’s refusal to maintain the work of the operation launched in 2008 against acts of piracy in Somali waters. Finally an ‘ad hoc’ mission was commissioned although it has always been defended that both operations cooperate to strengthen the European security structure in the region.
‘Atalanta’ was launched by the EU 16 years ago to prevent pirate attacks against European ships off the coast of Somalia. It is currently led by Spain, which has the frigate ‘Victoria’ deployed in the area as part of the European Naval Force (Eunavfor, for its acronym in English).
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