Sweden has said it is open to discussions about a possible NATO role in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, according to Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
In comments to POLITICO ahead of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, Stenergard stressed that keeping the waterway open is a strategic priority for Europe.
“It's definitely in Swedish and European interests to make sure that we keep the strait open and that Iran cannot use this as a weapon again,” she said, adding that she is willing to consider different operational formats for securing the route.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments pass, was disrupted after Tehran halted commercial traffic in response to a U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran that began on February 28. NATO, however, has so far remained largely outside formal discussions on restoring maritime traffic, with divisions among member states over the broader conflict.
Some European allies, including France, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom, have also limited U.S. access to airspace or military bases during the tensions, further complicating coordination within the alliance.
