BRUSSELS, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has no appetite for expanding its naval mission "Aspides" to the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.
After a foreign ministers' meeting, she said the EU ministers had discussed options to better protect shipping in the region, with a focus on de-escalation and the freedom of navigation.
"We are working on the diplomatic solutions for the Strait of Hormuz," she said, adding, "This is not Europe's war."
"Aspides", meaning shield in Greek, is a defensive naval mission launched by the EU in February 2024, aiming to restore and safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf regions.
Kallas' remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump urged NATO allies to support efforts to secure oil transport in the strategic waterway. So far, several NATO countries in Europe, including Germany and Greece, have expressed unwillingness to support the U.S. proposal. ■
