European Union foreign ministers have signaled they are not prepared to broaden the remit of the Aspides naval operation to the Strait of Hormuz for the moment, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters after a meeting in Brussels.
Kallas said there was "a clear wish to strengthen this operation, but for the time being, there was no appetite in changing the mandate of the operation." The decision leaves Aspides focused on its original mission area despite mounting international concern over security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The call for wider international policing of the Strait of Hormuz has attracted attention after U.S. President Donald Trump urged other nations to assist following an escalation in the region. According to statements cited by EU officials, Iran responded to U.S.-Israeli attacks by using drones, missiles and mines to effectively close the channel for tankers that normally transport a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas.
Aspides - named after the Greek word for "shields" - was established in 2024 to protect merchant vessels from attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebel group in the Red Sea. Kallas highlighted that while "the Strait of Hormuz is at the center stage, the Red Sea also remains critical," underlining continued concern about shipping security across both corridors.
On current force posture, the mission has an Italian and a Greek ship under direct command and can call upon a French ship and an additional Italian vessel for reinforcement, Kallas said. She added that ministers discussed the need for more naval assets, noting "it should be strengthened, because it doesn’t have too many naval assets. It should have more."
The ministers' decision reflects a preference to keep Aspides focused on its Red Sea mandate while pursuing ways to increase its operational capacity, rather than extending its geographic scope to the Strait of Hormuz at this time.
Summary of the meeting:
- Ministers expressed support for strengthening Aspides' capabilities but did not approve a mandate change.
- Aspides remains tasked with Red Sea protection against Houthi attacks and retains limited direct naval assets.
- Regional tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, including recent reported actions involving Iran, have driven calls for enhanced security measures internationally.