Greece opposes expanding the mandate of the European naval mission to the Strait of Hormuz, a government spokesman said.
“There is no issue of our country’s involvement in such an operation,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told reporters, adding that Athens wants to keep its naval units operating in their current deployment areas in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Greek officials said Athens intends to preserve the current structure of Operation Aspides, which was launched in 2024 to protect commercial shipping from attacks in the Red Sea. Greece hosts both the mission’s headquarters and its afloat command.
Proposals to expand the operation or launch joint naval activities in the Strait of Hormuz under European Union command have been raised previously.
Greece has earlier participated in maritime monitoring operations in the region under the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH) initiative. The mission’s military component, known as Operation Agenor, includes eight European countries: France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Greek participation has mainly involved staff officers stationed in the United Arab Emirates, while the frigate Hydra joined the mission in a supporting role in 2021.
Military sources said the security risks in the Strait of Hormuz were significantly greater than in the Gulf of Aden, citing Iran’s capabilities, including guided weapons and unmanned aerial and naval systems that could threaten commercial and military vessels.
Separately, Athens is considering sending humanitarian aid to Lebanon after a new escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon have intensified after rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel, while about one million people are estimated to have fled their homes in the south following evacuation orders near the Israeli border.
Greek diplomatic authorities in Lebanon are coordinating humanitarian assistance with the foreign ministry, and officials are considering deploying a C-130 aircraft to deliver aid, according to government sources.