European Union foreign ministers will discuss bolstering a small naval mission in the Middle East on Monday, but are not expected to decide on extending its role to the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats and officials say.
The EU's Aspides mission was established in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebel group in the Red Sea and currently has an Italian and a Greek ship under its direct command.
With the Strait of Hormuz largely shut off since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28, some European officials have pondered whether the EU mission could be part of an effort to restore freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
EU officials and diplomats said ministers' discussions on Monday in Brussels would likely focus on a push by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to add more ships to the mission.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was sceptical about extending Aspides to the Strait of Hormuz, citing its current ineffectiveness in carrying out its task.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and other countries impacted by the curbing of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz to join efforts to reopen shipping lanes.
