Brussels [Belgium], March 31 (ANI): The European Council has updated the mandates of its key naval operations, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, to strengthen maritime security and safeguard global trade routes, according to an official European Council press release.

According to the press release issued on March 30, the move comes as the European Union seeks to reinforce its presence in the Red Sea and surrounding waters amid the ongoing threats to international shipping, including attacks on commercial vessels amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Under the revised mandate, ASPIDES, which was launched in February 2024 as a defensive response to Houthi attacks, will expand its role beyond protecting shipping lanes. The mission, according to the press release, will now collect and share information on suspicious activities targeting critical submarine infrastructure, support capacity building by training the Djiboutian maritime forces, and enhance cooperation with the Yemeni Coast Guard.

It will also deepen coordination with EU maritime initiatives such as CRIMARIO.

Meanwhile, ATLANTA, the EU's long-running naval operation in the Western Indian Ocean, will see a shift in priorities following a 2025 strategic review. The updated mandate suspends its role in monitoring the illicit charcoal trade, while continuing efforts to track arms trafficking, narcotics flows, and illegal fishing activities.

The operation will also take on a new responsibility to monitor and share intelligence on threats to critical submarine infrastructure, aligning its work more closely with broader EU maritime security efforts.

The Council said the updates underscore the need for sustained contributions to naval assets, including vessels, as the bloc works to ensure freedom of navigation and protect vital maritime infrastructure and global supply chains.

According to the European Council Press Release, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES was established on 8 February 2024 and launched on 19 February 2024 in response to threats to maritime security in the Red Sea. Its mandate has been extended until 28 February 2027 via a Council decision in February 2026.

EUNAVFOR ATALANTA was launched in 2008 as the EU's first naval operation. Initially tasked with counter-piracy, its mandate expanded in 2022 to include the countering of illicit arms and drug trafficking at sea. The mission has also been extended until 28 February 2027.

Both operations form part of the EU's integrated approach to maritime security, contributing to the regional stability of the areas covered by their mandates. (ANI)