ˌɔn fˈoːɹ fˈɛbɹuːˌɛɹi tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː, ðə nˈɔːɹθ ɐtlˈæntɪk kˈaʊnsəl ˌɛnˌeɪsˈiː dᵻsˈaɪdᵻd tʊ ɛkstˈɛnd ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃən ˈæktɪv ɛndˈɛvɚ tʊ ɪŋklˈuːd ɛskˈɔːɹɾɪŋ nˈɑːnmˈɪlətˌɛɹi ʃˈɪps tɹˈævəlɪŋ θɹuː ðə stɹˈeɪt ʌv dʒɪbɹˈɔltɚ tə meɪntˈeɪn sᵻkjˈʊɹɹᵻɾi ɪnðɪ ˈɛɹiə ænd tə sᵻkjˈʊɹ ðə sˈeɪf tɹˈænsɪt ʌv dˈɛzɪɡnˌeɪɾᵻd ˈælaɪd ʃˈɪps.
On 4 February 2003, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) decided to extend Operation Active Endeavour to include escorting non-military ships traveling through the Strait of Gibraltar to maintain security in the area and to secure the safe transit of designated Allied ships.