Another NATO country to join operation in Strait of Hormuz
Photo: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda (Getty Images)
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said that Vilnius may join the US mission in the Strait of Hormuz, but the decision still needs to be approved by the government and parliament, Bloomberg reports.
According to him, Lithuania has already received an invitation from the United States to join the Washington-led naval operation. The President plans to convene the State Defense Council in the near future to discuss the issue.
"We stand in solidarity," Nausėda said, adding that Lithuania understands it must not only demand and receive, but also give.
Participation in the mission is being considered as a step to support an ally amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Since early March, Iran has controlled passage through this strategic waterway, while in mid-April the United States imposed its own restrictions.
Against this backdrop, Lithuania, like other Baltic states, must take into account both its allied commitments and the position of most EU countries, which have not yet joined the operation.
At the same time, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia rely heavily on US security support, given their proximity to Russia and Belarus.
Some NATO allies have already announced plans to join the US operation. Germany, in particular, has begun preparations for a possible deployment in the area of the strait.
Berlin plans to pre-deploy a minehunter and a support vessel, even at the cost of partially reducing its presence in other regions.
In addition, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Ankara may join mine-clearing efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, but only after a potential peace agreement between Iran and the United States.
