“NATO is not involved in this war. We, as allies, were not informed and were not consulted. The Middle East is not within NATO’s area of responsibility, and therefore not only we, but many allies share the same view: NATO will not take part in this war,” Albares said.
According to Euronews, Spain does not share the U.S. position on the war in Iran, calling it a gross violation of international law. At the same time, Spain signed a joint leaders’ statement committing to “contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” the report said.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on April 8, said Germany would support a security mission in the Strait of Hormuz but that it would require an international mandate.
Merz noted that such a mandate would have to be provided by the U.N. Security Council. However, Russia is a permanent member and holds veto power over resolutions.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said that during a call with Trump on April 9, they discussed military capabilities and the logistics of vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are forming a coalition of countries … working on a political and diplomatic plan, and also considering military capabilities and … the logistics of the actual movement of ships through the strait,” Starmer said during a visit to the Persian Gulf.
On April 9, Trump, after meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, criticized allies, saying member states had not supported the United States when Washington needed it and casting doubt on their future assistance.
The same day, Reuters, citing two unnamed European diplomats, reported that the NATO chief had warned some allies that Trump wants assurances in the coming days on support for securing the Strait of Hormuz.
Der Spiegel reported on April 9 that Rutte told European capitals the U.S. president expects concrete commitments in the coming days on deploying naval vessels or other military forces.
On April 1, Trump said he is seriously considering withdrawing the United States from NATO after allies refused to join his war against Iran.
Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Trump had threatened to halt arms supplies to Ukraine to pressure European allies to join a coalition to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Following this, at Rutte’s insistence, on March 19 a group of countries, including key alliance members France, Germany and the United Kingdom, issued a statement expressing readiness to “contribute” to ensuring safe passage through the strait. Since then, other countries have joined the statement.