American and French naval vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz in this undated photo. As President Donald Trump presses NATO allies to increase their military presence in the strait, several member nations have begun committing additional support. (Keith Nowak/U.S. Navy)
STUTTGART, Germany — Some NATO allies have begun making concrete pledges of support for a future mission aimed at ensuring the safe passage of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the alliance’s top official said this week.
Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s remarks Thursday came against a backdrop of increased pressure on Europe from U.S. President Donald Trump to deliver military support in missions stemming from the war against Iran.
Trump has reportedly issued an ultimatum that countries need to make specific offers of what they can provide.
Rutte touted a recent announcement by the Netherlands of readiness to offer capabilities such as minehunters to the initiative. Frigates and radar technology also were under consideration, he said.
“We have to see what happens with the shipping lanes as we now go forward day by day,” he said during an appearance at the Reagan Institute’s Center for Peace Through Strength in Washington.
Rutte knows that Trump is “very keen on making sure that the sea lanes are open as soon as possible,” he added.
Trump told Rutte during a Wednesday meeting at the White House that pledges would be expected in a matter of days, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported.
It’s unclear whether NATO could play a formal role in providing security in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint where a fifth of the world’s oil supply usually transits.
The United Kingdom has been leading a coalition of more than 40 countries that are mobilizing an effort related to clearing the strait, a senior NATO military official pointed out Friday in a statement to Stars and Stripes.
“In terms of NATO’s role at this time, the Secretary General is in contact with Allies about his recent discussions in Washington,” the official said.
But the shape of any mission will likely hinge on whether a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran holds.
Dubbed Operation Epic Fury, the war began Feb. 28 with combined American and Israeli strikes that killed several top members of Iran’s government, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Though the ceasefire, announced three days ago, has reduced hostilities, ship trackers report that maritime traffic through the strait remains at a trickle amid fears of further Iranian attacks.
Following the ceasefire announcement, numerous countries issued a joint statement saying they “will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy all said they would participate, as did Spain, which has clashed with the Trump administration over the Iran war.
While NATO’s primary task is the territorial defense of member states, the alliance also has participated in out-of-area missions. For example, the bloc is involved in an ongoing initiative focused on the development of Iraq’s armed forces.
In the case of the Iran war, Trump has criticized the alliance for not being more involved from the outset. The White House has also warned that disagreements over the conflict could result in changes to the U.S. military’s force posture in Europe.
Rutte said he explained to Trump during their meeting that since allies were not consulted in the run-up to the Iran mission, it would take time for them to assemble.
“We have coalitions in Europe,” Rutte said. “We have sometimes the political home front to take care of. Sometimes it takes a couple of days, but then we pull together. And almost the whole of Europe did for the U.S. to project power on the world stage.”
Asked about a potential plan for American troop reductions in European countries deemed by Trump to be uncooperative, Rutte didn’t directly answer the question.
“I totally understand that over time, the U.S. wants more and more to pivot towards the Indo-Pacific,” he said. “This is one of the reasons why in Europe we have to step up.”
