Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2026/58 of 16 December 2025 on the appointment of the head of the military command and support cell of the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2025/1431 (EUSDI/4/2025)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/58 6.1.2026 POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2026/58 of 16 December 2025 on the appointment of the head of the military command and support cell of the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2025/1431 (EUSDI/4/2025) THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38 thereof, Having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1599 of 3 August 2023 on a European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea(1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 3(1) of Decision (CFSP) 2023/1599, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) is to exercise the political control and strategic direction of the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea (the ‘Initiative’). Furthermore, the Council authorised the PSC to take relevant decisions in accordance with Article 38 of the Treaty on European Union, including decisions on the appointment of the head of the military command and support cell.

(2) On 9 July 2025, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/1431(2) appointing Captain André (Annius) VAN DER KAMP as head of the military command and support cell of the Initiative as from 16 July 2025.

(3) On 3 December 2025, the Spanish military authorities proposed the appointment of Colonel Emilio Asensio BAUTISTA MARTÍNEZ as head of the military command and support cell of the Initiative (the ‘proposed appointment’).

(4) On 9 December 2025, the Military Commander for the military pillar of the Initiative supported the proposed appointment.

(5) On 12 December 2025, the EU Military Committee supported the proposed appointment and recommended that the PSC approve it.

(6) A decision on the appointment of Colonel Emilio Asensio BAUTISTA MARTÍNEZ as head of the military command and support cell of the Initiative as from 9 January 2026 should be taken.

(7) Decision (CFSP) 2025/1431 should be repealed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Colonel Emilio Asensio BAUTISTA MARTÍNEZ is appointed as head of the military command and support cell of the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea as from 9 January 2026.

Article 2 Decision (CFSP) 2025/1431 is hereby repealed.

(1) OJ L 196, 4.8.2023, p. 25, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/1599/oj.

(2) Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2025/1431 of 9 July 2025 on the appointment of the head of the military command and support cell of the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2025/69 (EUSDI/2/2025) (OJ L, 2025/1431, 17.7.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/ 2025/1431/oj).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/58/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 6.1.2026 Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on 9 January 2026.

Done at Brussels, 16 December 2025.

For the Political and Security Committee The Chairperson D. PRONK 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/58/oj