Date: 2025-11-05Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2025/2244 of 4 November 2025 on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA), and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173 (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA/3/2025)
**Executive Summary**
This document is Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2025/2244, dated November 4, 2025, regarding the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA. It appoints Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA as EU Force Commander, effective November 7, 2025, and repeals Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Appointment of EU Force Commander:**
* Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA is appointed as EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
* The appointment is effective from November 7, 2025.
* **Repeal of Previous Decision:**
* Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173 is repealed.
* **Entry into Force:**
* The decision enters into force on November 7, 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA**
**Impact**
Appointed as EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
**Action Required**
Assume responsibilities as EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR ATALANTA starting November 7, 2025.
**Rear Admiral Francisco Javier Vázquez Sanz**
**Impact**
Position as EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR ATALANTA is terminated.
**Action Required**
Handover responsibilities to Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA by November 7, 2025.
**EUNAVFOR ATALANTA**
**Impact**
A new EU Force Commander is appointed to lead the military operation contributing to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
**Action Required**
Cooperate with the new EU Force Commander, Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA, to ensure continued effective operation.
Key Entities Referenced
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA: European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173: Political and Security Committee Decision being repealed by this document regarding the appointment of the EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
Political and Security Committee: The committee authorized to make decisions on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA: Appointed as the EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP: Council Joint Action establishing a European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA).
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/2244 5.11.2025
POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2025/2244
of 4 November 2025
on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to
contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR
ATALANTA), and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173 (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA/3/2025)
THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38 thereof,
Having regard to Council Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP of 10 November 2008 on a European Union military operation to
contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA)(1), and in particular
Article 6(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) On 10 November 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP, which provides for a European Union
military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR
ATALANTA).
(2) Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee
(PSC) to take decisions on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR ATALANTA (the ‘EU Force
Commander’).
(3) On 10 June 2025, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173(2) appointing Rear Admiral Francisco Javier
Vázquez Sanz as EU Force Commander.
(4) On 14 October 2025, the Portuguese military authorities proposed the appointment of Commodore João Pedro
MONTEIRO DA SILVA to succeed Rear Admiral Francisco Javier Vázquez Sanz as EU Force Commander as from
7 November 2025 (the ‘proposed appointment’).
(5) On 16 October 2025, the EU Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA supported the proposed
appointment.
(6) On 20 October 2025, the EU Military Committee supported the proposed appointment and agreed that
Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA be appointed as EU Force Commander.
(7) A decision on the appointment of Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA as EU Force Commander should
be taken.
(8) Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173 should therefore be repealed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Commodore João Pedro MONTEIRO DA SILVA is appointed as EU Force Commander for the European Union military
operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) as
from 7 November 2025.
Article 2
Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173 is hereby repealed.
(1) OJ L 301, 12.11.2008, p. 33, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2008/851/oj.
(2) Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2025/1173 of 10 June 2025 on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for
the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR
ATALANTA), and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2025/365 (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA/2/2025) (OJ L, 2025/1173, 11.6.2025, ELI: http://
data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1173/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2244/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 5.11.2025
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 7 November 2025.
Done at Brussels, 4 November 2025.
For the Political and Security Committee
The Chairperson
D. PRONK
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2244/oj