The Netherlands preparing military intervention in the Strait of Hormuz

The Dutch Cabinet is preparing a military mission ot contribute to security in the Strait of Hormuz, Ministers Tom Berendsen of Foreign Affairs and Dilan Yeşilgöz of Defense announced on Friday in a letter to parliament.

“Although the situation remains uncertain, major interests are at stake for the Netherlands,” the Ministers wrote. The government is investigating the “desirability and feasibility of potential Dutch military deployment.”

After Iran and the United States agreed to a ceasefire, the Dutch government indicated that it wanted to work with other European countries to “safeguard free passage in the Strait of Hormuz.” According to RTL Nieuws, the deployment of minehunters was mentioned as a possible example. The government did stress at the time that an end to hostilities was a condition for Dutch support.

“At present, the Netherlands is mapping out the various options for military contribution in order to make operational preparations and to enable timely deployment,” the Ministers said.

“Naturally, any potential military contribution is part of a broader effort in which diplomatic and economic resources may also be deployed,” they wrote.

The Ministers linked the Dutch military operation to preventing attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, rather than the American-Israeli war on Iran. They referred to an earlier letter on March 19 in which the government condemned “attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure” and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“That statement also described the willingness in principle to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” the Ministers wrote.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major global shipping route for oil and natural gas from the Middle East. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel started attacking it in mid-March. The closure sent oil and gas prices skyrocketing.

In the Netherlands, the impact was mainly felt at the gas station when refueling and on the energy bill, but economists warned that the high oil and gas prices would eventually trickle down to impact every sector of the Dutch economy.

Earlier this week, the U.S. and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement, and the Strait of Hormuz reopened for non-Iranian ships. Oil prices immediately fell, but Minister Berendsen warned that the benefits would only last as long as the truce holds, adding that the Dutch economy will feel the consequences of this war for months to come.