EU proposes naval mission to clear Hormuz mines

Investing.com -- The European Union has put forward a proposal for its Aspides naval mission to assume "the primary role" in clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz "when conditions allow" as part of a Franco-British-led initiative, according to a Reuters report Wednesday citing an internal document dated May 26.

The European External Action Service reportedly wrote in a note sent to member states that "the situation requires the Union to provide a meaningful contribution" to a coalition led by France and Britain "to be materialised once conditions allow and separated from the belligerents".

Any change to the Aspides mission's mandate would require unanimous approval from all 27 EU member countries. The mission was established in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebel group in the Red Sea.

The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz has "immense shared consequences for the region and Europe, with Iran selectively allowing passage," the EU's diplomatic arm wrote in its note.

Hostilities continued on Wednesday as Iranian attacks on Kuwait damaged its airport and injured dozens while the U.S. military carried out strikes near the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomacy to halt the war has shown little sign of progress.

France and Britain have taken the lead in assembling a coalition of countries that could help ensure safe transit through the Strait once the situation stabilizes or the conflict is resolved.

There's still no consensus among Western allies on whether Iran has placed mines in the waterway.

Around a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that effectively closed after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

The EU's diplomatic service said that a European contribution would serve "to showcase EU-wide ownership and responsibility in addressing a situation affecting all Member States" and "vis-a-vis NATO Allies".

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