Austria will contribute two officers to the EU maritime mission in the Red Sea, “European Union Naval Force Aspides” (“EUNAVFOR Apsides”). The experts will contribute their know-how in the areas of logistics and information and communication technology at the mission’s operational headquarters in Larissa, Greece. If necessary, the Austrian participation can be increased to up to five people.
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner commented: “The current developments in and around Europe show that Europe’s international security and defense policy is facing major challenges. These can only be tackled jointly. I therefore see Austria’s contribution to the ‘Aspides’ protection operation as particularly important when it comes to representing Europe’s – and therefore Austria’s – vital interests within the European network and actively protecting the security of important trade routes to Europe. The Austrian Armed Forces can also contribute its decades of experience in crisis management to this international protection mission. I wish our mission officers every success and thank them for their contribution to Europe’s security.”
Decisions on the “Aspides” mission
Against the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation in the Red Sea, the Council established the maritime operation “EUNAVFOR Apsiden” on February 8 to safeguard freedom of navigation in connection with the crisis in the Red Sea. The operation was then launched with a further decision on February 19.
Today, a majority of the ÖVP, Greens and NEOS voted in the Main Committee to approve the deployment of members of the Ministry of Defense and the Austrian Armed Forces as part of the mission. With the same vote, the committee approved a regulation governing the powers of those deployed.
According to the existing international legal basis for this mission, it is envisaged that powers such as the search and removal of persons and the termination of attacks against “EUNAVFOR Apsides” or other legal interests requiring special protection in the context of the mission may be enforced by the respective deployed bodies in individual cases using direct coercive force. The principle of proportionality must be given particular consideration in this regard.
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