American fighter jets is not going to be allowed to make use of the Austrian airspace for missions against Iran.
The Alpine nation has reportedly blocked the US from using its airspace after an announcement by its Ministry of Defence today.
Austria said the US is not going to have permission for military operations against Iran.
That is resulting from the country’s neutrality law, which bans Austria from joining any military alliances like Nato or allowing foreign military bases on its territory.
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While the ministry didn’t reveal the variety of inquiries from the US, it said there was ‘several,’ in response to the Austrian publication ORF.
Nonetheless, individual cases can be reviewed along with the Austrian foreign ministry.
Sven Hergovich, the pinnacle of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), which is an element of the coalition, said the defence minister should ‘not approve a single further US military flight to the Gulf.’
He said: ‘Nor should she approve any transport flights or other logistical support. Just as Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland are doing. This war is damaging Austrian economic interests, Europe as an entire, and world peace.’
It comes after Spain decided to dam US warplanes from its airpaces involved in Operation Epic Fury within the Middle East.
Spain blocked US fighter jets stationed in third countries just like the UK and France from using its airspace.
Meanwhile, the UK has allowed American aircraft to make use of British bases, namely RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, in some operations against Iran.
Nonetheless, the bases may be used just for defensive operations that halt Iran from putting British interests or lives in danger.
Despite the move, Donald Trump has not minced his words against the UK and European leaders after he accused them of not getting involved in its quest against Iran.
The US president wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday in a scathing post that ‘all of those countries that may’t get jet fuel due to strait of Hormuz, like the UK, which refused to get entangled within the decapitation of Iran’ can purchase oil from the US.
Trump’s anger towards US allies has ramped up because the start of the joint US-Israel war against Iran and the refusal of many countries to get directly involved within the conflict.
He called NATO a ‘paper tiger’ and ‘terrible,’ and even hinted at he’s pondering of pulling out of the alliance.
What’s the Austrian neutrality law?
Austria was named a neutral state following the atrocities of the Second World War, which had seen the country annexed as a part of Nazi Germany.
When Germany was split into West Germany, a NATO member, and East Germany under the Soviet influence, tiny Austria became a united and independent country with everlasting neutrality codified in law in 1955.
The law means neutrality must be maintained and guarded.
In practice, it prohibits Austria from joining military organisations like NATO, and hosting any foreign soldiers and military bases within the country.
Austrian personnel have been on the bottom in previous conflicts just like the international mission in Afghanistan.
Austrian personnel took part within the NATO-led ISAF troops, but their role was strictly in peace-supporting, non-combat roles.
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