Netherlands won’t help U.S. block Strait of Hormuz

The Netherlands will not support the U.S. plan to block shipping to and from Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz said, while also warning of growing instability tied to the proposal and expressing concern over possible U.S. troop withdrawals from Europe that she says could seriously damage European defense cooperation.

Speaking on the radio program Sven op 1, Yeşilgöz said she does not envision Dutch participation in the U.S. plan announced Sunday by President Donald Trump to block the Strait of Hormuz.

She noted that Iran has itself closed the strait up to now and said blocking maritime traffic would be counterproductive. “This is a worrying next step,” she said. “It is all quickly coming on top of each other. It is escalation upon escalation. Ultimately, it must of course go completely the other way.”

The Netherlands is instead working with allies, including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, on options to restore maritime traffic through the strait.

Yeşilgöz said Prime Minister Rob Jetten could communicate that position directly to Trump during a visit to Washington, D.C. “He can confidently, on behalf of the Netherlands, on behalf of the entire cabinet, show we are ready to take responsibility,” she said.

She emphasized that the situation remains conditional and no decisions have been made. According to Yeşilgöz, key questions remain about whether allies will participate, what the situation on the ground looks like, and what added value Dutch involvement could provide. She added that there has not yet been a concrete request to deploy assets such as naval minesweepers.

Separately, Yeşilgöz also voiced concern about reports that Trump may consider withdrawing U.S. troops from Europe, possibly as a response to resistance from European countries such as Spain over the war with Iran.

“Those are distressing signals,” she said. “I hope he does not do that. I hope he does not do that in all of Europe.” She added that she knows “behind the scenes, very hard work is being done to prevent that.”

Yeşilgöz warned that a U.S. withdrawal would have major consequences for European defense. “We work very closely together, whether it concerns training or intelligence. We really need each other, and it is mutual,” she said.

She also cautioned that Spain and its allies should recognize that using a “moral finger” risks undermining cooperation with the United States, which she said would directly affect Europe’s security.