Middle East not in NATO's area of responsibility — Spanish FM

The Middle East does not fall within NATO’s area of responsibility and the alliance will not take part in the regional conflict, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said.

On April 9, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the North Atlantic Alliance could provide support to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The Spanish foreign minister told journalists that both Spain and many allies had made clear that NATO would not take part in that war. He recalled that the Middle East is not within NATO’s area of responsibility.

The minister stated that the ongoing bombings of Lebanese territory by Israel indicate that the Jewish state "does not want to give the world a respite, does not want to leave even a second of hope."