The foreign ministers of the EU countries will discuss on Monday how to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. This is what the EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, says. The announcement comes ahead of the meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
- The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is really dangerous for the oil supply and for the supply of fertilizer. If there is a shortage of fertilizer this year, we will see a food shortage next year, says Kaja Kallas.
The announcement comes while the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil has reached over 100 dollars. A level not seen since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Therefore, there is increasing pressure from both the United States, Asia and European countries and companies to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The EU will, among other things, look at whether the mandate for the maritime mission "Aspides" can be expanded, Kallas states.
- We will discuss whether it is possible to change the mandate for "Aspides". The goal is to find out whether EU countries really want to use the mission, says Kaja Kallas.
"Aspides" was originally created as the EU's naval operation in the Red Sea. It was launched in response to repeated Houthi attacks on international shipping in February 2024.
According to an EU official with insight into the mission, the ships in the "Aspides mission" also have a mandate to operate in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, this is done with a mandate that states that it is only a "non-executive task". This means that the navy does not have a mandate for direct military intervention. By changing the mandate to an "executive mandate", the "Aspides mission" can actually be used to protect European ships transporting, for example, oil or fertilizer through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Many in the shipping industry are demanding that "Aspides" be given an "executive mandate" so that they can protect the ships, says the EU official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iran attacks in retaliation for attacks
Iran has announced that it will block the waters in retaliation for the US and Israeli attacks on Tehran. Since the announcement, Iran has attacked several ships in the area.
The situation has prompted US President Donald Trump to push for Britain, France, China and Japan to send ships to the area to protect oil transport. Around 20 percent of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. That is why the situation is critical for oil supplies.
For its part, France has opened up to launching a new defensive naval operation with a coalition of willing countries. According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the aim is to protect ships and oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. In light of the French proposal, a clarification is needed, says Kallas.
- If we want security in the region, it will be easiest to use the mission that we have in the area. And perhaps change it, says Kaja Kallas.
/ritzau/
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