Following talks yesterday with the other coalition nations, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten made it clear: unless attacks stop, there will be no Dutch military aid in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Al Jazeera, Jetten is not alone: none of the 35 countries in the UK-led coalition is willing to enter the Strait unless reciprocal attacks stop.
The talks seem to have yielded little tangible action, but there is a strong consensus among coalition nations that while the war still rages, sending aid is out of the question.
Unsafe conditions
Jetten’s stance is, ultimately, unsurprising.
Just two weeks ago, he gave a statement saying, “At the moment, any mission in the Strait of Hormuz will need an ease in tensions in the region,” reports NU.nl.
However, he’s also indicated that aid is not impossible — it’s just a matter of timing.
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Assistance in restoring the safety of the Strait once attacks have stopped, for instance, is still very much on the table.
The Dutch navy could be sent in to help clear sea mines from the passage once things have calmed down, according to NOS.
For now, however, the Dutch military is staying put.
Trump’s requests rejected
In a speech at the White House last night, Trump said the war would last a few more weeks, reports the BBC.
As energy prices continue to soar globally, it’s become increasingly difficult for the American president (whose campaign promise was, by the way, “no more wars”) to justify the attacks in Iran.
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Despite his continued requests for aid, Trump has been unable to convince the coalition countries that their aid would make a major difference in the Strait.
One thing is clear: the Dutch aren’t rushing into a war they didn’t start.
What do you think of Jetten’s statement? Let us know in the comments!
