Latvia has not yet received any requests to participate in the military operation being conducted by the United States and Israel in the Middle East, President Edgars Rinkēvičs told journalists on Wednesday, during a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa at the Riga Castle.
He emphasized that should Latvia receive such a request, it would be carefully and promptly evaluated in consultation with relevant ministries, the government, and the Saeima (Latvian parliament). The President noted that any decisions regarding the deployment of a military contingent fall within the competence of the Saeima.
Rinkēvičs stated that the actions of the US and Israel in the Middle East are understandable, given the role of Iran – its nuclear program, the threats it poses to neighboring countries, and its support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. He believes that the heightened rhetoric heard in public should take place in appropriate forums – discussions between NATO, the European Union (EU), and the United States.
The President said that global events are closely interconnected and that both Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East should be addressed comprehensively by Europe and the United States. He stressed that Europe must uncover ways to support its allies, even if those decisions are complex. Rinkēvičs added that all expect clear US involvement in resolving the situation in Ukraine. The President noted that both NATO and the EU should seek common ground rather than emphasize differences.
Reports indicate that the conflict between the US and Israel against Iran has led to a virtual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, causing a sharp rise in prices.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump warned that NATO faces a highly bleak future if its allies do not help unblock the Strait of Hormuz. Trump then stated on Monday that he expects assistance from France and the United Kingdom in ensuring navigation through the Strait, which Iran is attempting to block. The following day, Trump announced that the US military no longer needs military assistance in the war against Iran.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed the view that restoring free shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is not a NATO task. Starmer pointed out that it requires the involvement of a broad alliance, including partners in the Persian Gulf, as well as European countries and the United States.
“We are working with other countries to develop a credible plan for the Strait of Hormuz that will allow us to restore shipping and passage. Let me be clear – this is not and has never been planned as a NATO mission,” Starmer told journalists at Downing Street.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday that the war in the Middle East, triggered by US and Israeli strikes against Iran, has no connection to NATO and is not a NATO war.
