European Union foreign ministers are set to discuss bolstering a small naval mission in the Middle East, Aspides, which was established in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebel group in the Red Sea. However, they are not expected to decide on extending the mission's role to the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely shut off since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28. Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has criticised the mission, stating it is not effective in carrying out its current task. Any change to the mandate would require approval from all the EU's 27 member countries.