NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday reaffirmed the alliance’s unity and readiness to protect common interests, saying allies were working to “find solutions” amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking with Romanian President Nicusor Dan in Brussels, Rutte highlighted Romania’s strategic role on NATO’s eastern flank and in the Black Sea, calling Romania “a vital reason for our common security.”
He stressed NATO’s operational readiness, citing recent air patrols by Romanian F-16s and the interception of ballistic missiles aimed at Turkey.
“We are alert and ready to defend every inch of allied territory,” he said. “We stand together and have the vital capabilities we need to ensure our defense, including ballistic missile defense.”
Turning to the war in the Middle East, Rutte stressed that allies agreed that the Strait of Hormuz “cannot remain closed.”
“It has to be reopened as soon as possible. It’s crucial for the world economy. It’s also crucial because it’s unacceptable for a key sea route to be closed, or for that sea route to be so difficult to use because of all the threats that are currently there,” he stressed.
Rutte noted that the allies are discussing with each other and with the US to find “the best way forward to solve this huge security problem”.
“I am confident that the allies, as always, will do everything in support of our common interests, as we always do, so that we will find a way forward,” he added.
Tensions in the Middle East have remained high since the US and Israel launched a large-scale military campaign against Iran, which has so far killed more than 1,300 people, including then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes across the region, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to most shipping – a key oil transit route that normally carries 20 million barrels per day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade.
President Nicusor Dan reaffirmed Romania’s security as a NATO member and highlighted Bucharest’s decision to host US defense equipment as a clear demonstration of allied solidarity.
Later on Thursday, Rutte met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Andrey Gurov, who described the current period as “very unstable,” highlighting the Black Sea region, which he said had transformed from a trade corridor into an “arena for geopolitical confrontation.”
“Bulgaria remains steadfast in its commitments to NATO,” Gurov said, adding that, even as a technical government, its role is to “stay the course” and remain fully aligned with NATO decisions.
