Greek National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell paid a visit at a Djibouti port on Saturday to the Greek frigate 'Psara', Greece's contribution to the EU's ASPIDES operation (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) in the Red Sea.
The two men were briefed by the frigate's commander on its operations.
On the ship, Dendias expressed to the sailors his appreciation for their dangerous mission (which involves escorting merchant marine ships against Houthi attacks), and said among other things that "if the free passage of shipping is interrupted, the upheaval in markets, the increase of inflation, the loss of jobs, will deeply affect Greek society, will deeply affect European society."
A ministry of defense statement said that Dendias and Borrell had previously met with the assigned local commander from the Netherlands in the presence of Rear Admiral Vassilios Gryparis, head of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES operations. Dendias also met with the president of the Greek community of Djibouti, Marios Armenakis.
The Greek minister and EU high official were accompanied by Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis and Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras.