The Strait of Hormuz at the heart of NATO discussions: allies seek a solution with the Gulf states

NATO foreign ministers are scheduled to meet with their counterparts from several Gulf Arab states on Tuesday to try to find a solution to the ongoing crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for global energy trade. Discussions will focus in particular on a Franco-British proposal to establish a multinational maritime mission, which has so far been rejected by Iran.

This meeting, organized on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, will bring together representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. It comes after several weeks of heightened tensions in this crucial maritime area, despite an interim peace agreement reached between the United States and Iran.

The situation remains unstable, and a return to normal maritime traffic has not yet occurred. On Tuesday morning, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) reported that an oil tanker had been hit east of Limah, Oman. Previous reports also indicated that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had fired at least two missiles at merchant ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the meeting, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot emphasized the importance of supporting the Arab Gulf states, stating that several of them had been directly targeted by Iranian attacks in the spring. He argued that the security of these countries and that of NATO members are closely linked, even beyond the strategic importance of the Strait of Gibraltar for European energy supplies.

Iran began blocking this sea route after a US- and Israeli-led military intervention in February. Despite the interim agreement reached in mid-June, navigational difficulties persist, leading to higher oil prices, increased shipping costs, and further strain on global supply chains.

Any lasting agreement concerning maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz would, however, require Tehran's agreement. Discussions between NATO and the Gulf states therefore aim to find a compromise that would restore freedom of navigation without provoking further regional escalation.