Europe
EU approves new Lebanon support mission and extends Iraq advisory mission; Kallas says Aspides needs at least 10 ships
At the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 October, EU ministers approved a new support mission in Lebanon and extended the Iraq advisory mission by two years, Kaja Kallas said.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on 12 October approved a new EU support mission in Lebanon and extended the EU advisory mission in Iraq by two years, High Representative Kaja Kallas said at the press conference after the Foreign Affairs Council. She also said the EU naval operation in the Red Sea, Aspides, needs at least 10 ships and is not there yet.
Lebanon and Iraq
According to Kallas, the new mission in Lebanon is meant to strengthen the country’s control over its territory, border security and internal security, and the EU aims to have it operational within months. The decision follows earlier signals from Brussels on the file, covered in Lebanon: EU preparing a training mission for the Lebanese army; Kallas: “There cannot be a security vacuum when UNIFIL leaves”.
On Iraq, Kallas said ministers extended the mandate of the EU Advisory Mission for two years. She described its purpose as supporting counterterrorism and efforts against organised crime.
Red Sea: Aspides needs more ships
Asked about the Middle East, Kallas condemned the Houthi attacks on Riyadh Airport and conveyed condolences to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal. She said Operation Aspides is becoming more important, that it needs at least 10 ships and that the EU has not reached that number. She welcomed recent offers from member states. Kallas also said more than 60 countries have pledged to oppose tolls and fees on international shipping routes.
Aspides operates from an operation headquarters in Larissa, Greece. On 14 October, the operation’s press team reported that a delegation from the Hellenic National Defence College visited the headquarters, where Captain Dimitrios Patsikas, the operation’s Chief of Staff, briefed the group on the mission, its structure and its ongoing activities. He described Aspides as an EU Common Security and Defence Policy mission supporting freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea.
The EEAS texts do not give the size of the current Aspides force or the number of ships offered by member states.
