European Union unprepared to deploy naval vessels to secure Strait of Hormuz

Moscow — European Union member states are not prepared to deploy vessels to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz, said Kaja Kallas, Head of Foreign Policy for the European Union, on Monday (16 March).

During a press conference following a meeting with EU foreign ministers, Kallas stated that the US-Israel conflict with Iran is not a European war.

“In the situation in this region, we have Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea. The discussion centres on the fact that this operation needs to be reinforced because it does not have many naval assets. It should be strengthened,” Kallas said in a press conference after the meeting of EU foreign ministers.

“However, the decision on whether this mandate will be expanded to cover the Strait of Hormuz extending north from the Muscat line did not receive support from member states. No one wants to become actively involved in this war, and all parties are concerned about how it will ultimately end,” Kallas emphasised.

Meanwhile, since last weekend, United States President Donald Trump called on oil-importing nations whose shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the security of the waterway on Saturday (14 March), promising assistance and coordination from the United States.

“Countries in the world that obtain oil through the Strait of Hormuz must protect that route and we will help — a lot!” Trump said on his Truth Social media platform.

He also promised that Washington would coordinate with those nations to ensure everything proceeds swiftly, smoothly, and well.