EU: "Aspides" Escort Mission Could Be Extended to Hormuz
Middle East – On May 12, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas stated that the EU might decide to expand its military operation in the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, provided that the war in the Middle East comes to an end.
Speaking to journalists after the EU Defence Ministers' meeting, she said: "The EU's Aspides escort mission currently operating in the Red Sea could extend its scope to the Strait of Hormuz." She added that several countries have already expressed willingness to contribute to strengthening this mission.
The Aspides escort mission was launched in 2024, consisting of three warships aimed at protecting merchant vessels from attacks by Houthi forces in Yemen. As U.S. President Trump urges Europe to intervene in his conflict with Israel against Iran, European nations are striving to respond to Trump’s appeals for assistance without getting entangled in a war they consider unrelated to their own interests.
France and the United Kingdom have initiated a volunteer alliance aimed at securing the Strait of Gibraltar, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes. However, this effort is contingent upon peace being restored first.
A European diplomatic source explained that the move aims to coordinate the Aspides mission with the upcoming operations of this alliance.
At the time, Ms. Kallas had stated that in March this year, EU foreign ministers made it clear that as long as the war continues, they would not alter the mandate of the Aspides mission. "No one wants to get involved in this war."
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1865041173082115/
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