The European Council has decided to extend the European Union’s maritime security operation, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis until February 28 next year, albeit on a smaller annual budget. “The decision reflects the EU’s continued commitment to maritime security, regional stability and the protection of global trade flows,” stated a release. EUNAVFOR ASPIDES was established by the EU in February 2024 as a defensive operation in response to the Red Sea crisis, following repeated Houthi attacks on international shipping since October 2023. While there have been no Houthi attacks this year, simmering tension between the US and Iran, the Houthis’ major backer, has kept the Red Sea shipping crisis in the headlines in recent weeks. In related news, Dryad Global, a maritime security specialist, reports that commercial maritime traffic in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz is experiencing elevated risks of GPS jamming and AIS spoofing, directly linked to ongoing Iranian military exercises. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsYemen