The Greek Navy frigate Psara, currently serving as the flagship of the EU's ASPIDES naval mission in the Red Sea, could ...

The Greek Navy frigate Psara, currently serving as the flagship of the EU's ASPIDES naval mission in the Red Sea, could soon take on a new assignment: clearing naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz. A document cited by Reuters on Wednesday outlines EU proposals that would assign ASPIDES a primary role in mine-clearance operations there, as part of a broader Franco-British led coalition. The May 26 memorandum, circulated among all 27 EU member states, states that ASPIDES should assume the lead role "when conditions permit" and that any operation would remain "distinct from the two belligerent parties." France would lead the coalition alongside the UK, which is not an EU member. Expanding the ASPIDES mandate would require unanimous approval from all 27 member states, and it remains unclear whether every government is on board. Greece has been one of the most active contributors to the mission since it launched in early 2024, deploying frigates to escort commercial vessels through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden following Houthi attacks on merchant shipping. The Psara is currently the ASPIDES flagship. Greek naval vessels have escorted dozens of merchant ships through some of the world's most heavily trafficked and now most dangerous sea corridors. Athens has consistently framed its participation as a commitment to freedom of navigation and European maritime security. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical chokepoints, handling roughly 20 percent of global oil traffic. Any mining of the waterway would have immediate consequences for global energy markets and European supply chains. #Greece #ASPIDES #Hormuz