European powers have rejected calls from Donald Trump to send naval forces to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, choosing diplomacy instead even as tensions in the Middle East push energy prices higher.
The US president had warned that NATO could face a “very bad future” if allies failed to help secure the waterway, through which about one-fifth of global oil shipments normally pass. But key European governments made it clear they would not deploy warships.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin would not take part in any military action to reopen the strait. He stressed that there had been no joint decision to intervene and therefore Germany would not contribute militarily.
Merz criticised Iran’s leadership but said experience showed that bombing the country into submission was unlikely to be the right solution.
Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius also questioned the idea of European naval involvement. He asked what a handful of European frigates could achieve in the strait that the powerful US Navy could not handle on its own.
The UK adopted a cautious stance as well. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would not be “drawn into a wider war”, although efforts were under way with partners to find a workable plan to stabilise shipping through Hormuz.
Italy echoed that view, with foreign minister Antonio Tajani insisting that diplomacy must prevail and confirming Rome had no plans to send naval forces to the region.
European Union foreign ministers also declined to expand the mandate of their existing Red Sea naval mission, Operation Aspides, to cover the Hormuz waterway. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there was interest in strengthening the mission but little appetite for changing its mandate.
Several other US allies, including Australia, France and Japan, have also indicated they have no plans to deploy warships.
The dispute comes as the conflict involving Iran and Israel continues to widen, sending oil prices sharply higher and raising concerns about global energy supplies.
The tensions have already affected regional infrastructure. Oil-loading operations were suspended at the UAE port of Port of Fujairah after a drone attack triggered a fire, temporarily disrupting shipments.
Despite the rising risks, European governments are signalling that they prefer diplomatic engagement rather than military involvement to reopen the Hormuz route and stabilise global energy markets.
