27/06/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday, June 27, acting US Secretary for Defence, Mark Esper, called on the Allies to join his country's efforts to safeguard security in the Arabian Sea, after a series of attacks that Washington blamed on Iran (see EUROPE 12281/3). Following a NATO meeting in Brussels, Mr Esper said he urged his Allies to consider all options: “from broader maritime surveillance - and that should include air surveillance - all the way up to a pickup line of ships to help protect the international waterways and to include maybe even escorts”. NATO's participation requires the unanimous agreement of all 29 allies. And while tensions between Washington and Tehran are still high, the Secretary of Defense said his country “does not seek war with Iran”. (CG)