European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
Europeans have capabilities the US lack to secure Strait of Hormuz, Rutte says
euractiv ـ NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Europeans have heard the US’s call to help in reopening the Strait of Hormuz and have the assets to counter Iranian mines laid in the strategic waterway.
NATO’s foreign ministers discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz –where traffic has been halted since the joint Israeli-US war in Iran started at the end of February – during a meeting in Helsingborg on Friday.
A coalition of around 40 countries, co-led by France and the United Kingdom, has committed to providing assets to secure the shipping route once a lasting ceasefire is reached.
The US has repeatedly criticised European allies over a perceived lack of support for its military operation, prompting US President Donald Trump to question the purpose of NATO altogether.
But Rutte on Friday said the European-led initiative shows “Europeans have heard the message.”
Some countries have already moved assets to the region ahead of future deployment, including the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the UK’s combat vessel HMS Dragon.
“This is acknowledged by the US,” Rutte added.
The NATO chief also highlighted that Europeans have specific capabilities suited to that type of mission, notably mine-hunting and de-mining capabilities.
“This is something, of course, where Europe is strong at. The US is not that big when it comes to de-mining,” he said.
Iran has laid mines in the stretch of water with US intelligence recently identifying at least 10.
To counter this wide array of threats, navies would have to send substantial military assets to protect merchant ships, notably dedicated vessels known as minesweepers.
But it is still unclear whether the alliance could have a role in the coalition’s future operations.
NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Alexus G. Grynkewich, on Tuesday said military planners had not yet drawn plans to involve NATO, because a political decision to involve the alliance needs to be taken first.
“Am I thinking about it? Absolutely,” he told reporters.
However, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux on Thursday rejected the idea of NATO participating in the coalition, saying it is “neither its purpose, nor the appropriate setting” to intervene in the strait.
“This is an ongoing discussion within that coalition where NATO listens in, but of course is not leading that,” Rutte said after the meeting of foreign ministers on Friday.
European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
