European Union Kicks Off Naval Operation In International Waters From Red Sea To Persian Gulf!

Peter Stano, Lead Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the European Union, confirmed that the EU naval military mission in the Red Sea, under the name of Operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, has commenced.

He stated the aim of implementing this operation an attempt to restore security and maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. It was emphasized that the nature of this operation is purely defensive, and the EU forces will have the capability to destroy missiles targeting commercial ships.

According to the EU statement, the mission area of the EU forces encompasses the international waters of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman, and the Persian Gulf.

The commander of this operation is Commodore Vasilios Griparis, and the military forces are under the command of Rear Admiral Stefano Costantino. The headquarters of this operation are located in the city of Larissa, Greece, which hosts one of the largest air bases in Greece and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The EU’s deployment of military forces to the Red Sea is seen as a response to the successful naval operations by Yemeni armed forces in support of Palestine and the unsuccessful US-led coalition efforts to deter attacks on ships associated with Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Analysts and critics in Europe believe that the EU’s operation in the international waters of the Red Sea to the Gulf of Persia will not have any particular impact, as the EU lacks the equipped military and naval capabilities that the US military possesses to effectively carry out such maritime operations in the Red Sea to achieve the aforementioned objectives.