Which one of the following statements best reflects the purpose of ‘Mission Aspides’, recently launched by the European Union?
(a) It is a humanitarian mission to evacuate refugees from conflict-hit zones in Africa and the Middle East.
(b) It is a naval exercise conducted by EU and NATO forces to secure the Black Sea from Russian incursions.
(c) It is a European Union initiative to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea and nearby waters from maritime threats.
(d) It is a trade corridor project launched by the EU to connect Europe with Asia via the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean.

Question

Which one of the following statements best reflects the purpose of &lsquo;Mission Aspides&rsquo;, recently launched by the European Union?
(a) It is a humanitarian mission to evacuate refugees from conflict-hit zones in Africa and the Middle East.
(b) It is a naval exercise conducted by EU and NATO forces to secure the Black Sea from Russian incursions.
(c) It is a European Union initiative to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea and nearby waters from maritime threats.
(d) It is a trade corridor project launched by the EU to connect Europe with Asia via the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean.

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Context: Recently,the European Union launched Operation Aspides, a defensive maritime security mission aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and surrounding waters. This initiative was prompted by escalating attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have targeted international shipping routes with drones and missiles since October 2023.

Mission Aspides is a security initiative launched by the European Union to safeguard vessels navigating through high-risk areas such as the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Sea, and surrounding waters. The mission primarily aims to counter threats posed by Iran-backed Houthi attacks, ensure maritime situational awareness, and uphold the freedom of navigation.

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
Which one of the following statements best reflects the purpose of ‘Mission Aspides’, recently launched by the European Union? (a) It is a humanitarian mission to evacuate refugees from conflict-hit zones in Africa and the Middle East. (b) It is a naval exercise conducted by EU and NATO forces to secure the Black Sea from Russian incursions. (c) It is a European Union initiative to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea and nearby waters from maritime threats. (d) It is a trade corridor project launched by the EU to connect Europe with Asia via the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean.