Interview by Yousef Al-Tattan
KUWAIT, Sept 16 (KUNA) -- Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, Operational Commander of the European Union's Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Aspides, described Kuwait as a "vital trade partner," emphasizing the importance of cooperation to secure global shipping routes and face related maritime challenges.
This was during an interview with KUNA on Tuesday during his official visit to Kuwait, invited by the Ministry of Defense.
Gryparis met with Assistant Commander of the Kuwaiti Naval Force, Brigadier General Nasser Al-Mutairi, where he highlighted shared trade and security interests with GCC countries.
He called for greater information exchange and broader regional participation in protecting maritime corridors, to enhance Aspides' ability to secure global trade, which he described as a vital lifeline for countries in the region and Europe.
Gryparis said Aspides, launched in February 2024, operates in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and northwest Indian Ocean. "We act as a shield to protect innocent seafarers and merchant vessels from unlawful attacks," he said.
The Admiral stressed that, "Aspides is a defensive operation designed to secure international shipping lanes." Despite operating with only two naval vessels covering a vast area, Aspides has protected over 1,200 ships, helping secure global trade and ensuring maritime safety under difficult conditions with minimal assets.
He pointed to Aspides' intervention in preventing an environmental disaster involving a tanker carrying three times the crude oil of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. "Had such an incident occurred in the confined waters of the Red Sea, it would have devastated desalination facilities, fisheries, and coastal livelihoods," he said.
The Admiral warned that maritime threats endanger international law and stability, saying the success of Operation Aspides depends on strengthening cooperation with Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council to maintain maritime order.
Since the mission's launch, he has visited several GCC states, citing the importance of their partnership in safeguarding navigation, reducing regional tensions, and supporting global commerce through enhanced cooperation. (end) yt.aai