EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday, May 12, that the European Union could expand its naval mission in the Red Sea to include the Strait of Hormuz once the ongoing conflict involving Iran comes to an end.
Speaking after a meeting of EU defence ministers, Kallas highlighted the potential to broaden the scope of the bloc’s maritime security efforts.
“Operation Aspides already makes a crucial contribution in protecting shipping in the Red Sea, but its activities could also be extended to the strait,” she said.
Kallas added that several countries have already pledged to contribute additional naval assets to the mission, which could support any future expansion if approved.
The proposal comes as Europe seeks to respond to the disruption caused by the conflict involving Donald Trump’s war on Iran and its impact on global trade and energy markets. European governments have been working to position themselves to help restore maritime traffic once hostilities subside.
France and the United Kingdom have been leading discussions on a possible multinational naval initiative in the region. Defence ministers from around four dozen countries are holding another round of talks on Tuesday to advance these efforts.
Earlier, in March, EU defence ministers had rejected proposals to expand the existing Red Sea mission, reflecting divisions within the bloc over its scope and mandate.
Meanwhile, negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the conflict and reopening key maritime routes appear to have stalled.
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies typically pass — has driven up global energy prices and heightened concerns over supply security.
The EU’s Operation Aspides was launched in 2024 to safeguard commercial shipping in the Red Sea, particularly against attacks by Houthis based in Yemen. Any expansion to the Strait of Hormuz would mark a significant extension of the mission’s operational reach.
By Tamilla Hasanova
