NATO members discuss Strait of Hormuz options without alliance involvement

NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe hosted a videoconference on August 19 with top military officials from member nations to discuss potential contributions to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting was led by US Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich. Two days later, a NATO spokesperson made the quiet part loud: “This is not a NATO mission.” The deliberate decision to keep these discussions outside formal NATO structures reflects a calculated effort to avoid dragging the 32-member alliance into the escalating tensions between the US and Iran. European NATO members in particular have shown little appetite for deploying alliance assets in what could become a combat scenario in one of the world’s most strategically vital waterways. France and the United Kingdom have instead taken the lead on building a separate multinational coalition. The effort reportedly involves approximately a dozen nations focused on maritime security and mine-clearance operations, with an eye toward stabilization rather than confrontation. The Strait of Hormuz has historically carried roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil, making it one of the most consequential chokepoints in global...