Athens, Greece. Greece and Spain said on Monday they will not take part in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The statements come as U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration was in talks with seven countries about helping to secure the waterway.
Greece limits participation to EU naval mission
Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Greece will not engage in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz. He told a press conference that Greece would only participate in the European Union’s naval mission “Aspides,” which is tasked with protecting ships in the Red Sea.
Trump seeks international support for Hormuz security
Trump said on Sunday his administration was talking to seven countries about helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. He called on them to help protect ships in the vital waterway that Tehran has mostly blocked to oil tanker traffic.
Spain rejects participation and cites legality concerns
Spain’s defence and foreign affairs ministers said on Monday that Spain will also not take part in any military mission in the Strait of Hormuz because it considers the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran to be illegal. The leftist coalition government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has criticised the offensive and banned participating U.S. aircraft from using jointly operated bases in southern Spain.
Robles and Albares urge de-escalation
Defence Minister Margarita Robles rejected Trump’s demand for military support to secure the waterway and his threats of a “very bad future” for NATO allies failing to do so. Robles said Spain would not accept “stopgap measures” and called for the war to end immediately.
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said the situation in the strait is a matter of grave concern for Europeans, but that the European Union’s position should be that the war must end regardless of economic considerations. Speaking in Brussels, he said, “We mustn’t do anything that would add even more tension or cause the situation to escalate further.”
Other EU members signal positions
Some EU members such as Germany and Italy have also signalled they will not join military operations in the strait, while others including Denmark have yet to make a decision.
How do you think the European Union should respond to requests for military support in the Strait of Hormuz?