European countries reject Trump’s call for help to reopen strait of Hormuz
European countries reject Trump’s call for help to reopen strait of Hormuz
European nations have declined to deploy naval forces to the Strait of Hormuz, despite Donald Trump’s warning that NATO faces “a very bad future” if members don’t assist in reopening the crucial waterway. Germany, in particular, has ruled out involvement in any military operation, including efforts to secure the strait. “This conflict was not initiated by us, nor are we its architects,” stated Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius. “Can the European fleet, however limited, achieve what the mighty US navy has struggled to accomplish alone?” he questioned.
“This is not our war, we have not started it,” said the country’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius. “What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in the strait of Hormuz that the mighty US navy cannot manage alone? This is the question I find myself asking.”
A spokesperson for Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, added on Monday that NATO’s primary role is territorial defense, and its current mandate doesn’t cover this initiative. Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the UK would not enter the broader regional conflict but was working on a practical solution. “The goal is to restore access to the strait, ensuring energy market stability. That’s no simple task,” he said, stressing the need for broad partner agreement.
European officials have prioritized diplomatic strategies to address the closure of the strait, which once transported roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied fossil gas. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, emphasized the importance of diplomacy, stating his nation was not participating in any naval missions that could expand to Hormuz. He expressed skepticism about extending existing EU missions in the Red Sea, which are focused on anti-piracy and defense, to the strait.
The stance of major European powers stood out because they had not publicly criticized Trump’s decision, alongside Israel, to strike Iran 16 days earlier. Shortly after the initial attacks, Trump declared the aim of the campaign as regime change, though the conflict has since escalated into a wider regional dispute, driving up energy prices. Countries like Australia, France, and Japan have confirmed no plans to send warships.
Trump intensified his push, telling the Financial Times in an interview: “It’s only appropriate that those benefiting from the strait support its security. If there’s no response or a negative one, I think it will be very bad for NATO’s future.” EU foreign ministers met on Monday to explore ways to reopen the strait, but disagreements lingered over whether to broaden their Red Sea mission’s scope.
Greece, which hosts the headquarters for Operation Aspides, also declined to take part in military operations within the strait. Meanwhile, Israel announced it had launched a “wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure” in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz. The nation claimed overnight attacks had destroyed a plane used by Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at Mehrabad airport in Tehran.
“We want to make sure that they are as weak as possible, this regime, and that we degrade all their capabilities, all parts and all wings of their security establishment,” said the Israeli military spokesperson, Nadav Shoshani.
The conflict’s effects are spreading across the Gulf. Oil loading at the UAE’s Fujairah port was paused after a drone attack sparked a fire. Fujairah, located near the Strait of Hormuz, handles about a million barrels of crude daily—roughly 1% of global demand. Civil defense teams worked to control the blaze, with no casualties reported. A separate incident near Dubai airport saw a fuel tank ignite, temporarily disrupting flights. Central Israel also experienced air raid sirens after an Iranian missile strike, which hit near Tel Aviv, causing debris to fall.
