Larissa: Greek Chief of Defence at the EU IR26 exercise – medals for ASPIDES personnel and a “window” for more operations

The Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, and General Seán Clancy, chair of the EU Military Committee, were in Larissa on Thursday, November 5, at the Greek EU Operational Headquarters (EL EU OHQ). They attended the high-level observation event of the EU IR26 crisis-management exercise and the medal ceremony for personnel of the European naval operation ASPIDES. Houpis said that the ability of the Larissa headquarters to direct more than one operation was examined.

The EU IR26 exercise and the Larissa headquarters

The event was hosted by EUNAVFOR ASPIDES and, as its announcement on the European External Action Service website describes, it brought together EU representatives, senior officers, national and regional authorities and other guests. Those present saw at first hand how an EU-led military operation is planned, commanded and conducted, and what role the operational headquarters plays in implementing the Common Security and Defence Policy.

The announcement presents the exercise as EU IR26 (PACE), while ERT refers to it as EU Integrated Resolve. ASPIDES in the Red Sea is already directed from Larissa. In statements after the event, as reported by ERT Larissa, Houpis said that beyond the success of the operation’s results, the possibility of the headquarters “implementing more than one operation” was examined. According to him, the picture is now clear: the Union has the capabilities and the will to use them successfully. A few days earlier he had been in Saudi Arabia, where he visited Riyadh and Yanbu.

Medals for ASPIDES personnel

The centrepiece of the event was the award of the CSDP Medal for Exceptionally Distinguished Service to military personnel who served in EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, for their dedication, professionalism and contribution to the operation. The medals were presented by Clancy, on the basis of the decision of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy dated June 12, 2025.

ASPIDES commander Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis congratulated the recipients and highlighted three messages: pride in the achievements, the importance of operational experience in preparing the EU for future maritime challenges, and the need for it to remain ready in an increasingly demanding security environment. He stressed that freedom of navigation is fundamental to international trade, European prosperity and international stability, and that the operation’s experience must be preserved and used in developing the EU’s military capabilities. He also paid tribute to those who served in particularly difficult conditions, protecting merchant ships and seafarers.

Clancy’s message

Clancy told the personnel: “Your work matters. And it is recognised,” referring to the demanding and unpredictable security environment in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. He underlined that ASPIDES operates under a clearly defined defensive mandate: “ASPIDES is not here to escalate the conflict. It is here to protect maritime traffic, ensure freedom of navigation and contribute to regional stability.” He added that the operation must have the necessary ships, personnel and capabilities to remain effective: “Our operational ambitions must be matched by the resources required to achieve them.”

ASPIDES has operated since February 2024 with a strictly defensive mandate and, as the European announcement says, contributes to protecting merchant ships, the safety of seafarers and the continuity of vital international sea trade routes. ERT reports that Clancy considered Greece’s contribution particularly important, as the country hosts the EU operational headquarters.