<\/p>\n
NATO is discussing the possibility of helping ships pass through the blocked Strait of Hormuz if the waterway isn\u2019t reopened by early July, according to a senior official in the military alliance.<\/p>\n
The idea has support from several members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, but doesn\u2019t yet have the necessary unanimous support, said a diplomat from a NATO country. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity. Leaders from NATO countries will meet in Ankara July 7-8.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe political direction comes first, and then the formal planning happens after that,\u201d said Alexus Grynkewich, NATO\u2019s supreme allied commander Europe, when asked about the possibility at a Tuesday press conference. \u201cAm I thinking about it? Absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such a move would represent a shift in the military alliance\u2019s strategy toward the US-Israeli war in Iran. Thus far, allies have insisted they would only be involved in the strait once fighting has stopped and they can form a broad coalition that includes many non-NATO countries.<\/p>\n
But economic woes are deepening, with the strait\u2019s closure sending energy prices soaring and growth forecasts tumbling.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unclear exactly how NATO countries could guarantee safe passage for commercial vessels through the strait. A recent US attempt to do that was halted within days of being launched, despite Washington\u2019s considerable military capabilities.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation didn\u2019t immediately reply to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
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Iran initially blocked the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 which transits roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies \u2014 after the US and Israel began bombing the country in late February.<\/p>\n
The passageway has since become a source of tension between the US and its European allies in NATO, who refused to heed President Donald Trump\u2019s demands that they help reopen the strait.<\/p>\n
Trump has repeatedly fumed about the reaction and Washington recently announced it would withdraw 5 000 troops from Germany.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The senior NATO official said that while some allies still oppose authorizing an alliance mission for the strait, they would rally around the idea if the blockage persists.<\/p>\n
The NATO diplomat said that several allies do support intervening to help reopen the strait, but cautioned that others are still reluctant to be dragged into the conflict.<\/p>\n
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Grynkewich said it was in allies\u2019 interest to get commercial vessels moving again through the strait, noting that Iran had fired several missiles into alliance territory.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stoppage,\u201d he said, \u201cis affecting all of our economies in a very negative way \u2014 and affecting our economies affects our military industrial capacity over the long term.\u201d<\/p>\n
While NATO allies are unified in wanting the strait reopened, they have taken slightly different approaches to the war.<\/p>\n
Some countries like Spain have been unequivocal in their opposition to the war. Madrid even barred the US from using its airspace and bases to attack Iran. Most allies, however, have quietly granted access to their bases to provide logistical support.<\/p>\n
A coalition led by France and the UK is also developing a plan to help secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once the fighting abates. Some countries have even positioned assets in the area in preparation.<\/p>\n
That hasn\u2019t been enough to placate Trump, whose anger has been specifically targeted at Germany. So far, though, the US has made no formal request for NATO involvement in the strait, Bloomberg previously reported.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n
#NATO #starting #Hormuz #mission #protect #ships<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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