EU seeks more vessels to secure Hormuz navigation

The European Union’s foreign policy chief has said securing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran war ends will require more ships, including additional vessels from Europe, and the expansion of an existing EU naval mission.

The EU mission in the Red Sea — dubbed Aspides, from the Greek for “shield” — comprises 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 before the war, lies 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 need to be amended, depending on additional requirements such as specialised 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 further details.

Earlier this year, the EU extended Aspides’ mandate until the end of February 2027, with an additional €15 million (US$17.5 million) in funding.

France and the UK are also considering their own naval force to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end.

An EU official said the bloc was in discussions about possibly merging Operation Aspides with the Franco-British force, but much remains to be resolved regarding under whose authority a joint force would operate. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly about the negotiations.

Shipping costs rose after the war in Iran began on February 28, driven by high insurance premiums. The EU official said costs were unlikely to fall for at least another year following the end of hostilities, noting that it is now cheaper for ships to travel around the African continent than to pass through the Red Sea.

He said officials are considering offering state guarantees to shipping companies to help reduce insurance premiums.

File name: EU foreign policy chief

Caption: European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. AP