The EU is adapting the mandates of its Aspides and Atalanta naval missions. The aim is to increase security in the Red Sea, better protect critical infrastructure and safeguard international shipping in the long term.
The Council of the European Union today adopted two decisions amending the mandates of the EU naval operations EUNAVFOR Aspides and EUNAVFOR Atalanta.
According to the information provided, these updates take place against the background that the EU continues to actively contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the wider region. Its naval presence there has already helped to protect important maritime routes and infrastructure as well as global trade flows. The decisions are intended to further strengthen the EU’s maritime engagement and underline the need for continued contributions of assets, including ships.
Aspides to be extended
The Council amended the mandate of Aspides, the EU operation established in February 2024 as a defensive operation following repeated Houthi attacks on international shipping.
In addition to its existing tasks, the operation is now being expanded in terms of its resources and capabilities. For example, Aspides will collect and share information on suspicious activities related to critical underwater infrastructure (CSI).
It will also contribute to capacity building by training Djibouti’s maritime forces. Cooperation with the Yemeni coast guard is also planned.
Aspides will also strengthen links with other EU initiatives in the future, including CRIMARIO, the EU project on critical maritime routes.
Atalanta with a new task
Following the 2025 Strategic Assessment, the Council also adopted changes to the mandate of Atalanta, the long-standing EU naval operation in the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
The updated mandate suspends the monitoring of the illegal charcoal trade, while secondary tasks to monitor arms and drug smuggling and illegal fishing remain in place.
Atalanta will also strengthen links with other EU initiatives, including CRIMARIO. The mission will also be given a new task, namely to collect and share information on suspicious activities related to CSI within the available means and capabilities.
Background
The Aspides mission was established on February 8, 2024 and launched on February 19, 2024 in response to maritime security threats in the Red Sea. The mandate was extended until February 28, 2027 by a Council decision in February 2026.
Atalanta was launched in 2008 as the EU’s first naval operation. Originally set up to combat piracy, its mandate was extended in 2022 to include combating the illegal smuggling of weapons and drugs at sea. This mission was also extended until February 28, 2027.
