The EU foreign policy chief said freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran war ends will require more ships, including additional European vessels, and likely expansion of the Aspides naval mission. Aspides, named for a Greek word meaning shield, currently consists of three vessels protecting shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Strait of Hormuz is at the southern end of the Red Sea and previously carried about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas. Operational plans may need amendments if additional requirements arise, including specialized mine-clearing vessels. The EU plans to add another vessel to Aspides without providing details, and the mission was extended to February 2027 with added funding.
"The European Union's foreign policy chief said Thursday securing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran war ends will require more ships, including more vessels from Europe, and the expansion of a current EU naval mission."
"The EU mission in the Red Sea dubbed Aspides, from the Greek for shield is comprised of three vessels that protect shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and gas used to pass prior to the war, sits at the southern end of the Red Sea."
"EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers that the operational plans for Aspides may have to be amended, depending on additional requirements such as specialized vessels to clear mines from the strait. But it mostly needs more ships, she said, adding that an additional vessel will join the Aspides operation, without providing any details."
"The EU earlier this year extended Aspides' mandate until the end of February 2027 with an additional 15 million euros ($17.5 million) in funding."
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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