High Representative Kaja Kallas signed a Status of Forces Agreement with Djibouti on 16 July 2026, formalising logistical support for EU naval operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Speaking in Djibouti alongside Foreign Minister Omar, Kallas stressed that the agreement ensures continued access to fuel, water, food, and port services for EU ships and air assets, calling it a major step forward in bilateral relations. The deal underpins two EU missions: Operation ATALANTA, active since 2008 to combat piracy, and Operation ASPIDES, a defensive mission launched in 2024 to protect civilian shipping from Houthi attacks. Kallas noted that ASPIDES has shielded over 670 merchant vessels and saved 128 seafarers in 29 months, but warned that the security situation is deteriorating, citing recent Houthi missile strikes on Saudi Arabia and Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement locks in shore-based support that Kallas described as essential for keeping one of the world's economic lifelines open. Beyond security, Kallas visited an EU-funded seawater desalination plant that supplies 30% of Djibouti's drinking water, illustrating the broader cooperation agenda. The visit underscores the EU's reliance on Djibouti as a strategic hub for naval operations in a region where maritime threats are rising.
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