Rutte: Some NATO countries are working on measures to ensure passage through the Strait of Hormuz

(Patria) - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said yesterday that some NATO member states are working on measures to ensure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, TASS reported.

"I know that the president (of the USA) was angry because he believes that European and other allies were too slow. The good news is that since Thursday, a group of 22 countries, mostly from NATO, but also Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, UAE and Bahrain, most of the other NATO countries, are gathering to implement his vision of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz is free, open as soon as possible. So, we are now planning," he said in an interview with Fox News.

He also said that he maintains contact with US leader Donald Trump, despite his criticism of NATO.

"We have spoken several times this week," he noted.

Rutte said on March 2 that NATO does not plan to participate in the United States and Israel's military operation against Iran. The US president stated on Friday that NATO will not help the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz because the organization is "weak" and "they know we will do it for them".