Portugal assumes command of EU naval force for Operation ATALANTA

Portugal has assumed command of the European Union's naval force for Operation ATALANTA. Commodore Rodrigues Pedra of the Portuguese Navy is leading the 54th rotation of this multinational structure, marking the 12th time Portugal has held this leadership role.

The mission aims to protect maritime routes and combat illicit activities in the Western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea through February 2027. Key objectives include preventing piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia, protecting World Food Programme vessels, and combating the trafficking of weapons, drugs, illegal fishing, and illicit charcoal.

Operations are directed by a multinational staff from the Spanish frigate Santa Maria. The deployment comes amid a reported intensification of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast. During the handover ceremony in Djibouti, Commodore Pedra emphasized the necessity of international cooperation to ensure freedom of navigation and protect maritime communication lines in the Horn of Africa.