EU says more ships needed to secure Strait of Hormuz EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says securing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after the US-Israel war on Iran will require additional naval vessels. Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Kallas said the expanded effort would include more European ships and possible changes to the bloc’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea. The Aspides mission, named after the Greek word for “shield”, currently consists of three vessels tasked with protecting shipping from Houthi attacks.