NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that allies are informally discussing a possible role for the military alliance in the Strait of Hormuz amid growing economic concerns over the blockage of this waterway. Separately, he also mentioned the Russian-Ukrainian war, UNN reports with reference to Bloomberg.
Details
Speaking about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Rutte noted that these are informal discussions, but the situation is constantly evolving.
The NATO Secretary General added that he is constantly considering "whether the Alliance can play a positive role."
Allies have long stated they do not want to intervene until hostilities cease, but a prolonged closure of the strait is negatively impacting national economies due to skyrocketing energy prices, the publication says.
Allies are also discussing ways to continue financial support for Ukraine, which is becoming increasingly difficult after the U.S. stopped providing aid.
Rutte noted that he proposed allocating 0.25% of the allies' gross domestic product for Ukraine's needs—a long-standing proposal from NATO's eastern flank countries. At the same time, he remarked that this idea is unlikely to garner sufficient support and was primarily intended to spark a discussion, according to the Bloomberg publication.
Recall
NATO is discussing the possibility of launching a mission to escort and protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz if the waterway remains blocked until the beginning of July.