The Greek Security Council approved the country’s participation in the operation "Shield" in the Red Sea

Following the proposal of the Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, Greece’s participation in Operation Aspides (shield) to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea area has been approved by the State Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (ΚΥΣΕΑ).

Government sources said Greece will send the frigate Hydra to the region in the coming days.

Media reported that the frigate Hydra, which is located at the Salamis naval base, was visited by the Minister of Defense on Monday morning. Also at the Congress, at the proposal of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy Christos Stylianides, it was decided to extend the term of office of the acting head of the coast guard, Vice Admiral L.S., by one year. Georgios Alexandrakis.

Μετά τη σχετική απόφαση του ΚΥΣΕΑ, το οποίο συνεδρίασε υπό τον @PrimeministerGR, επισκέφθηκα στον Ναύσταθμο Σαλαμίνας την Φρεγάτα ΥΔΡΑ, η οποία θα αποπλεύσει προκειμένου να συμμετάσχει στην Επιχείρηση #EUNAVFOR #ASPIDES στην Ερυθρά Θάλασσα.

Η συμμετοχή της Φρεγάτας, μαζί με την… pic.twitter.com/yDF9CAjHBR

— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) February 26, 2024

In accordance with the decision of the ΚΥΣΕΑ, which met under the leadership of @PrimeministerGR, I visited the frigate ΥΔΡΑ at the Salamis naval base, which will depart to participate in the #EUNAVFOR #ASPIDES operation in the Red Sea. The participation of the frigate, as well as Greece taking over command of the operational headquarters with a Greek commander, is primarily in the national interest. As a maritime nation with a leading role in global shipping, the Hellenic Navy attaches great importance to the need to protect freedom of navigation and the lives of Greek sailors, as well as the standard of living of our country’s citizens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOZ_L47-jXE

The frigate will arrive in the Red Sea at the end of the week. From the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to the Persian Gulf it will be escorted by the Italian destroyer D-552 Caio Duillio, which carries the commander of the operation, as well as the French frigate D-653 Languedoc and the German F-221 Hessen.

The area of ​​operation defined by the European Political and Security Committee includes the Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz straits, international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Sea. The main tasks of the European armada will be to escort merchant ships, collect information to quickly determine the situation at sea and protect shipping from Houthi attacks in accordance with international law.

The European Commission also determined the rules for conducting an operation that is defensive in nature. This means that the use of ship weapons systems will be aimed at countering threats, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (aircraft, surface and submarines), and not on offensive actions against the Houthis.

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