European governments have told Donald Trump they will not send warships to the Strait of Hormuz until clear strategic goals and a collective mandate are in place, rebuffing the US president’s calls for immediate military assistance. The strait has been blocked since Iran effectively closed it following the start of hostilities, cutting off a vital artery for global energy trade. Trump warned that NATO allies who failed to act were jeopardizing the future of the alliance, but European leaders insisted that action without purpose would only deepen the crisis.
Germany under Friedrich Merz was the most direct in its refusal, stating unambiguously that the country would not participate in any military effort to reopen the strait. Merz called for the end of the Iranian regime but argued forcefully that history had shown military bombardment to be a poor instrument for achieving lasting political change. His defense minister made the same argument with more pointed language, publicly questioning what European frigates could realistically achieve that the US Navy had not already attempted.
Britain’s response, led by Keir Starmer, was more cautious and deliberately open-ended. The prime minister acknowledged the necessity of restoring access to the strait and promised a workable plan would be developed through consultation with as many international partners as possible. Trump remained unsatisfied with London’s position but stopped short of writing Britain off, suggesting he believed the UK would eventually step up.
Italy, France, and Greece each declined to commit military assets to the region, and the EU’s foreign policy leadership confirmed after Monday’s ministerial meeting that Operation Aspides would not be expanded. Japan and Australia added their voices to the international chorus of refusal. Estonia’s foreign minister said what many were thinking by calling on allies to demand clarity on strategic objectives before making any commitments.
Military developments on the ground continued to accelerate. Israel announced new strikes across Iranian cities, claiming to be implementing a detailed multi-week operational plan. Drone attacks struck a UAE oil port and set off fires near Dubai airport. Iran maintained its rejection of any ceasefire and warned the US against deploying ground forces. US casualties mounted, with 13 killed and over 200 wounded reported since the conflict began in late February, and rights monitors placed civilian deaths inside Iran at more than 1,800.