Source: European Parliament
The EU’s Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation ASPIDES is an autonomous and purely defensive operation and is not linked to any actions, such as strikes on Yemeni soil, taken by national forces or other operations in the area.
The objective of the operation is to protect merchant shipping and lives of the seafarers and uphold the freedom of the navigation granted by international treaties.
EUNAVFOR ASPIDES is not linked to the ongoing escalation in Gaza and Lebanon but aims at contributing to maritime security in the Red Sea, as well as to preventing further escalation through its strictly defensive posture.
In this context, EU does not view calls to terminate EUNAVFOR ASPIDES or withdraw assets from it as conducive to achieving regional de-escalation. The EU has been consistently calling for a ceasefire in Gaza[1], and does so now with respect to Lebanon as well[2].
The EU remains firmly committed to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, as reiterated by the European Council in its conclusions of 17 October 2024[3].
The EU actively supports and engages with international partners on concrete irreversible steps towards the two-state solution reviving a political process to this end, including through the holding of an international peace conference as soon as possible.
- [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/gaza-statement-high-representative-adoption-un-security-council-resolution_en; https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/06/28/european-council-conclusions-27-june-2024/
- [2] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/lebanonisrael-statement-high-representative-escalation-hostilities_en; https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/lebanon-statement-high-representative-latest-developments_en; https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/paris-oecd-and-un/eu-statement-%E2%80%93-lebanon-220th-executive-board-unesco_und_en
- [3] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/10/17/european-council-conclusions-17-october-2024/