European leaders met in Paris last week to discuss a multinational effort to protect ships through the strait, which was largely closed during the US-Israeli war against Iran.
About a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes through the strait. More than a dozen countries, including Italy, have said they will join the mission to secure passage when conditions permit.
– The contingency plan drawn up by the army chief of staff envisages a group consisting of two minesweepers, an escort ship and a logistics ship – navy chief of staff Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto told state television RAI on Wednesday evening.
– Obviously we are not acting alone. We are part of an international coalition, and other countries will send minesweepers – he said, adding that Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands have demining capacities.
Berutti Bergotto said the Italian ships would set sail from the northwestern port of La Spezia and would take about four weeks to reach the area. Italy currently has eight minesweepers in service.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said last week that the government would seek parliamentary approval before approving Italy’s participation in the Hormuz mission, Reuters reports.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
