Greece officially took command of the European Union’s maritime security mission, Operation ASPIDES, in the Red Sea on Friday during a ceremony held in Djibouti.
The handover event, which underscores Greece’s growing role in EU and NATO maritime defence, was attended by Greece’s Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, along with officials from the EU and NATO.
Operation ASPIDES (meaning "Shields" in Greek) is a joint EU-NATO mission focused on protecting commercial vessels and ensuring secure passage through the Red Sea and Gulf regions, areas that have seen recent Houthi-led attacks. During the ceremony on the Italian destroyer ITS Andrea Doria, Italian Rear Admiral Massimo Bonu formally transferred command to Captain Konstantinos Pitykakis of the Hellenic Navy.
Greece has overseen land-based command operations for ASPIDES from the mission’s headquarters in Larissa, Greece, which also hosts a NATO-standard military base. Now, with Greece assuming naval command, the country is at the forefront of on-ground and at-sea operations for the mission.
Dendias emphasised the symbolic and strategic value of Greece’s role in the region. "Our presence here today is of imminent significance—not only for the defense of our shared values, but also for the powerful symbolism it embodies," he stated. "It demonstrates what Europe can accomplish when we face common challenges with solidarity, unity, and unwavering resolve.”
In Djibouti, Dendias also visited the Greek frigate Spetsai, currently deployed in Operation ASPIDES, where he addressed the crew with a message of determination and national pride. "This moment reaffirms the role that our nation aspires to play in ensuring maritime security and upholding the principles of international law, especially the Law of the Sea," Dendias remarked, acknowledging the importance of their mission.
(Source: In.gr)