NATO May Intervene in Strait of Hormuz if Blockade Continues Past Early July 2026 - News and Statistics

May 19, 2026

NATO is considering assisting ships through the blocked Strait of Hormuz if the waterway remains closed past early July, a senior alliance official stated. The information was reported by Bloomberg, citing officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The proposal has backing from several NATO members but has not yet achieved the unanimous support required, according to a diplomat from a NATO country. NATO leaders are scheduled to meet in Ankara on July 7-8.

Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe, confirmed at a Tuesday press conference that he is thinking about the possibility, noting that formal planning follows political direction.

Such an intervention would mark a change in the alliance’s approach to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. Previously, allies insisted they would only engage in the strait after hostilities ended and a broad coalition including non-NATO countries was formed.

Economic difficulties are worsening due to the strait’s closure, which has driven energy prices higher and lowered growth forecasts. It remains unclear how NATO countries could ensure safe passage for commercial vessels. A recent U.S. effort to do so was stopped within days of its start, despite Washington’s significant military strength.

A NATO spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iran initially blocked the Strait of Hormuz—through which about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies move—after the U.S. and Israel began bombing the country in late February. The waterway has become a source of tension between the U.S. and its European NATO allies, who have refused to comply with current President Donald Trump’s demands to help reopen it. President Trump has repeatedly expressed anger over the response, and Washington recently announced it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.

The senior NATO official said that while some allies still oppose authorizing an alliance mission for the strait, they would unite behind the idea if the blockage continues. The NATO diplomat noted that several allies support intervening to reopen the strait but cautioned others remain reluctant to be drawn into the conflict.

Some NATO members, such as Spain, have been unequivocally opposed to the war. Madrid even barred the U.S. from using its airspace and bases to attack Iran. Most allies, however, have quietly allowed access to their bases for logistical support.

A coalition led by France and the UK is also developing a plan to help secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once fighting subsides. Some countries have positioned assets in the area in preparation.

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