Foreign ministers of the European Union are considering extending the bloc’s naval mission to help reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz amid disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The crisis has significantly reduced maritime traffic through the waterway, which normally carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil supplies as well as substantial volumes of natural gas, pushing global oil prices higher.

The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was examining possible options to ensure security in the region.

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“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard,” Kallas told journalists in Brussels.

One option under consideration is expanding the mandate of the EU’s existing Red Sea naval operation, Operation Aspides, to cover the Strait of Hormuz.

“If we want to have security in this region, then it would be easiest to actually already use the operation that we have in the region, and maybe change it a bit,” she said.

Kallas noted that it remains uncertain whether EU member states would agree to such an adjustment but added that a “coalition of the willing” could also be considered.

The naval mission, launched in 2024 to protect commercial vessels from attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces, currently includes three warships from France, Greece, and Italy.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that France and its allies are preparing a defensive operation aimed at reopening the strait.

United States President Donald Trump has also urged members of NATO to support efforts to restore navigation through the waterway, warning that the alliance could face serious consequences if the route remains blocked.