The EU opposes the expansion of the naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz. Kaja Kallas: “There is no appetite for a change of mandate”
European Union foreign ministers have shown, for the moment, “no appetite” for expanding the EU's naval mission from the Middle East to the Strait of Hormuz, the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, said on Monday, according to Reuters.
US President Donald Trump has asked other countries to help monitor the strait after Iran responded to US-Israeli attacks using drones, missiles and mines, effectively blocking the sea channel through which tankers carrying about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally pass.
The European Union's Aspides mission, named after the Greek word for “shields”, was set up in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
“In our discussions there was a clear desire to strengthen this operation, but for the moment there was no appetite for changing the mandate of the mission,” Kaja Kallas told reporters after the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
The mission currently has one Italian and one Greek ship under direct command and can also call on a French ship and another Italian vessel for support.
“The discussion was that it should be strengthened, because it doesn't have many naval assets. It should have more,” Kallas added.
“While the Strait of Hormuz is the focus, the Red Sea also remains crucial,” Kallas concluded.
