Mission Aspides

The European Commission President recently announced the launch of Mission Aspides, a naval deployment aimed at safeguarding vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks and ensuring freedom of navigation in critical trade routes.

About the Mission Aspides:

• The Mission Aspides is deployment of naval force to safeguard vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, emphasizing the mission’s role in ensuring the freedom of navigation in critical trade routes.
• Mission Aspides is focused on preserving the safety of maritime routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, areas crucial for global commerce, with 12% of global trade and 30% of the world’s container traffic traversing these waters.
• The mission’s operational scope spans significant maritime corridors including the Bab Al Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz, covering international waters in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Gulf.
• Named after the Greek word for “shield,” Mission Aspides aims to enhance maritime situational awareness, escort ships along their journey, and defend them against multimodal sea attacks.

Ref:Source