Following a recent meeting, EU Commissioner Kallas indicated that changes to the mission’s mandate would be necessary for such an expansion. Currently, Aspides plays a vital role in safeguarding maritime navigation in the Red Sea, having been initiated in 2024 to protect commercial shipping from attacks by the Houthi militia in Yemen. However, during a previous meeting in March, EU defense officials had expressed opposition to extending the mission. The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iranian Revolutionary Guards since the onset of the Iran conflict in late February, while U.S. forces are actively obstructing Iranian ports along the shipping route.