Two Dutch ships return home as international Hormuz mission remains out of reach

For months, Dutch naval vessels waited on standby for a possible international mission to safeguard one of the world's most strategically important waterways. But despite continued military planning, The Hague now appears to be signalling that such an operation is not imminent. The Dutch government has decided to bring home two naval vessels that were prepositioned for a potential mission in the Strait of Hormuz, while acknowledging that there is currently no activation of the multinational military operation being prepared by European allies. The move underlines how uncertain the security situation remains despite months of contingency planning. Read on for the full story and inside information in The Hague.