NATO Discusses Hormuz Deployment to Protect Shipping if Strait Not Reopened by July

NATO is discussing a potential Hormuz deployment if the strait remains closed into early July, a senior NATO official and a NATO country diplomat told Bloomberg, both speaking anonymously 12. Several members support the idea but unanimous backing is absent, and no formal decision has been reached 123. At a Tuesday press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich said he is thinking about a NATO role but stressed it is "ultimately a political decision," stating "there's no planning yet until the political decision is taken," while noting the closure is damaging allied economies and that Iran had fired missiles into alliance territory 12. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK have already sailed ships toward the region; a France- and UK-led coalition is separately developing a post-conflict Hormuz navigation plan, with NATO leaders set to convene in Ankara on July 7-8 123.