The Latvian Armed Forces do not have sufficient military-technical resources to effectively participate in efforts to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, former Commander of the National Armed Forces Juris Maklakovs told the LETA news agency.
He stressed that the launch of such an operation would first require a mandate from NATO or the United Nations, rather than a situation where “one person (US President Donald Trump) simply says that we must go to war against Iran.”
Even if such an operation were established under NATO or UN auspices, it would require not only careful planning of Latvia’s military resources but also approval from the Saeima.
Asked about Latvia’s military capabilities in the context of such a potential operation, the expert said that sending one mine countermeasure vessel could be considered, but only as part of a broader task force composed of larger Western countries.
As previously reported, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds (P) told Latvian Radio on Tuesday that
Latvia’s participation in a possible operation in the Strait of Hormuz is not currently planned.
When asked whether Latvia would have the resources to engage in such an operation if needed, the minister explained that any potential request would first have to be received and then thoroughly assessed, including the direct impact of participation on the security of NATO’s eastern flank.
The war by the United States and Israel against Iran has led to a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supply is transported, triggering a sharp rise in prices.
On Sunday, the US president warned that NATO faces a “very bad” future if allies do not help unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
On Monday,
Trump said he expects France and the United Kingdom to assist in ensuring navigation through the strait,
which Iran is currently attempting to block.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is not a NATO task. He noted that this would require the involvement of a broader coalition, including Gulf partners, as well as European countries and the United States.
“We are working with other countries to develop a credible plan for the Strait of Hormuz that would allow us to restore shipping and transit. Let me be clear — this is not and has never been planned as a NATO mission,” Starmer told journalists at Downing Street.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the war in the Middle East, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, has nothing to do with NATO and is not a NATO war.
Read also: Trump asks for help to restore traffic in the Strait of Hormuz; some countries have already refused