Currently, the participation of Latvian forces in a possible operation in the Hormuz Strait is not planned, said Defense Minister Andris Spruds on Latvian Radio, according to LETA.
The minister emphasized that Latvian military personnel are currently participating in several missions in the region — NATO's mission in Iraq, UN missions in Lebanon and Israel, as well as the European Union (EU) mission in the Red Sea. Currently, plans for further participation are not being considered.
In response to a question about whether Latvia has the resources to participate in such an operation if necessary, the minister noted that a corresponding request must first be made, after which it will be carefully assessed, including in terms of its impact on the security of the eastern flank.
The minister acknowledged that this regional conflict has serious global consequences, and this must be taken into account. At the same time, any decision regarding possible participation in the operation must first be made within the framework of the EU and NATO, Spruds emphasized.
"The main task of Latvia is to ensure security on the eastern flank, to carry out existing missions, and to strengthen cooperation within NATO, including with the USA in Latvia," the minister noted.
Commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that NATO faces a "very bleak" future if allies do not help unblock the strategically important Hormuz Strait for global oil exports, Spruds noted that there have been different approaches to other issues in the past, and this is possible in this case as well, "but I do not see a direct impact on NATO."
As reported, the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran has led to a de facto blockade of the Hormuz Strait, through which one-fifth of the world's oil was transported, causing a sharp rise in prices.
The U.S. president warned on Sunday that NATO faces a "very bleak" future if allies do not help unblock the Hormuz Strait. In turn, on Monday, Trump stated that he expects assistance from France and the United Kingdom in ensuring shipping through the strait, which Iran is currently attempting to block.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed the opinion that restoring freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Strait is not NATO's task. According to him, this requires the involvement of a broad coalition, including partners in the Persian Gulf, as well as European countries and the USA.
"We are working with other countries to develop a realistic plan for the Hormuz Strait that will allow for the restoration of shipping and transit. Let me be clear — this is not and has never been intended as a NATO mission," Starmer told reporters on Downing Street.
At the same time, a representative of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Monday that the war in the Middle East, caused by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, is not related to NATO and is not a war of the alliance.
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