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EU has 'no appetite' to expand Mideast naval mission to Strait of Hormuz, Kallas says

"There was in our discussions a clear wish to strengthen this operation, ⁠but for the time being, there was no appetite in changing the mandate of ⁠the ‌operation, ‌Aspides," EU foreign ⁠policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters ⁠after ‌meeting EU foreign ministers in ⁠Brussels.

Reuters WORLD
Published March 16,2026
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European Union foreign ministers showed a "clear wish" to ⁠strengthen ⁠a naval mission in the Middle East but had ⁠no appetite to expand its mandate to the Strait of Hormuz for the time being, EU foreign ⁠policy chief Kaja ⁠Kallas said on Monday.

"There was in our discussions a clear wish to strengthen this operation, ⁠but for the time being, there was no appetite in changing the mandate of ⁠the ‌operation, ‌Aspides," Kallas told reporters ⁠after ‌meeting EU foreign ministers in ⁠Brussels.