The European Council has approved a one-year extension of the European Union’s maritime security operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea, extending the mandate to 28 February 2027 and setting a financial reference amount of nearly €15 million (about $17.8 million) to cover common costs from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027, according to a press release from the Council of the European Union.
The decision follows a strategic review and confirms the continuation of defensive maritime security measures focused on protecting merchant and commercial vessels and safeguarding freedom of navigation along critical sea lines of communication.
Under the extended mandate, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES will continue vessel protection and maritime situational awareness activities in response to ongoing threats to international shipping.
The operation remains limited to defensive tasks and is conducted in accordance with international law.
The operational area spans the Bab al-Mandab Strait, international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, with monitoring activities linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
The Council also agreed that a further strategic review will be carried out in 2026/27, keeping the mission’s scope and resourcing under active assessment.
The extension signals a continued EU focus on maintaining maritime security along trade routes that have faced repeated disruption since late 2023.
The European Council defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union. It brings together the heads of state or government of EU member states, alongside its president and the president of the European Commission, and provides strategic guidance without exercising legislative authority.
