The European Union foreign ministers are discussing on Monday the potential to move an already operational mission in the Middle East region to try to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of the meeting.
“We will discuss the Middle East… And there, the main topic will be how to keep the Strait of Hormuz open,” Kallas said.
The EU, while receiving only 12% of Qatar’s LNG – which is now shut-in due to the war – is exposed to spiking natural gas prices as Asia is now winning the competition for alternative spot supply. The soaring oil prices and choked fuel flows in the Middle East and in Asia, which is prioritizing domestic supply, are also putting a strain on energy costs for households and businesses across the EU.
Ahead of the foreign ministers’ council today, Kallas said that she spoke with
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres “about whether it was possible to also have the same kind of initiative like we had the Black Sea initiative, how to get the grain from Ukraine out, because the closure of Strait of Hormuz is really dangerous for the oil supplies, energy supplies to Asia.”
The EU has the ASPIDES mission in the Red Sea and will discuss “whether it is possible to really change the mandate of this mission,” Kallas said.
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“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 a change a bit.”
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that is why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard, from the European side,” the EU’s top diplomat said.
After bombing Iran’s vital Kharg Island this weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged “Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!”
By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com
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