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As tensions continue to disrupt global shipping lanes, NATO is weighing the possibility of escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should the strategic waterway remain blocked beyond early July, according to a senior NATO official cited by Bloomberg.

The issue is expected to dominate discussions during a meeting of NATO leaders in Ankara on July 7 and 8, amid growing fears that prolonged instability in the Gulf could trigger a wider economic shock.

“The political direction comes first, and then the formal planning happens after that,” NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich said during a press conference on Tuesday when questioned about a potential maritime operation. “Am I thinking about it? Absolutely.”

The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow maritime corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman — remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with roughly a fifth of global oil shipments transiting through it daily. Any sustained disruption has immediate repercussions on international energy markets.

Diplomatic and military preparations are also accelerating beyond NATO. A coalition spearheaded by France and United Kingdom is currently developing contingency plans aimed at securing freedom of navigation through the Strait once hostilities subside. Several allied states have already repositioned naval and logistical assets near the Gulf in anticipation of a potential multinational mission.

Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration over Europe’s response to mounting security crises, while Washington recently announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, a move that has reignited concerns over the long-term American military commitment to the continent.