Several U.S. allies on Monday rejected calls by President Donald Trump to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, signalling reluctance to be drawn into a widening conflict in the Gulf.
Trump had urged partners to help secure the vital shipping lane after Iran retaliated against U.S.-Israeli strikes with drones, missiles and naval mines, effectively shutting the passage used by tankers carrying about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
The EU, UK, Germany, Spain and Italy were among those ruling out any immediate participation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted that the UK will not be drawn into the wider war in the Middle East even as European leaders ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz.
In his clearest signal yet of the UK’s divergence from Donald Trump’s attack on Iran, the Prime Minister said he would stand firm in the face of US pressure despite the decision being “difficult, there’s no hiding that”.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed the idea that a handful of European frigates could achieve what the powerful U.S. Navy could not, stressing that the conflict was “not our war”. Berlin also noted it had not been consulted before the hostilities began and had no plans to be drawn into them.
Spain similarly warned against actions that could escalate the crisis, while Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said deploying warships to the Gulf would amount to entering the war.
Denmark said IT would consider ways to contribute but emphasised that any effort must prioritise de-escalation and avoid widening the conflict.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was discussing possible diplomatic and security responses, including talks with the United Nations on arrangements similar to the deal that enabled Ukrainian grain exports during its war with Russia.
The EU is also reviewing whether the mandate of its naval mission, Aspides, which currently protects shipping in the Red Sea from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, could be expanded to include the Strait of Hormuz, though Greece, which leads the mission, said its role would remain confined to the Red Sea.