NATO's top military commander convened senior defense officials from allied countries this week to discuss possible contributions to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, but the alliance stressed that it is not planning a NATO military mission in the strategic waterway.
U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, hosted a videoconference Wednesday with defense chiefs from interested allied countries to explore ways they could support freedom of navigation in the strait, a spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.
“Given NATO's unique strengths in its ability to bring together Allies and understand the capabilities they bring to bear, it makes sense for NATO to facilitate in this way,” the spokesperson said, while emphasizing that the effort was not a NATO mission.
The discussions come as NATO members seek to avoid direct involvement in the nearly six-month-old conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel while preparing for a possible effort to restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The narrow waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world's most important energy routes. Before the conflict disrupted shipping, roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil passed through the strait.
