European countries have ruled out sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz, despite threats from US President Donald Trump that NATO faces 'a very bad future' if members fail to help reopen the vital waterway. Germany, the UK, and Italy have all indicated they will not participate in military action, emphasizing diplomatic solutions instead.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany will not contribute militarily, saying, 'There was never a joint decision on whether to intervene. That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise.' Defence Minister Boris Pistorius questioned the need for European frigates, asking, 'What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in the strait of Hormuz that the mighty US navy cannot manage alone?'
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would not be 'drawn into the wider war' but is working on 'a viable plan' to reopen the strait, which carried about a fifth of the world’s oil until its effective closure by Iran. He did not rule out any form of action but stressed the need for broad agreement among partners.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 'diplomacy needs to prevail' and cast doubt on expanding existing EU naval missions in the Red Sea to the strait, as they are anti-piracy and defensive. EU foreign ministers decided against extending the mandate of Operation Aspides, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Australia, France, and Japan also said they have no plans to send warships. Trump repeated his call for allies to help, saying he was 'not happy with the UK' but believed it would be involved. He warned that a lack of response would be 'very bad for the future of NATO.'
