EU, UK Reject Trump’s Call for Military Action to Secure Strait of Hormuz

EU, UK Reject Trump’s Call for Military Action to Secure Strait of Hormuz

European and NATO allies have firmly rebuffed U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for military assistance to secure the Strait of Hormuz, even as the strategic waterway remains effectively blocked amid the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran and global oil prices surge above $100 per barrel. The standoff highlights deep divisions among Western allies over how to respond to the crisis and underscores the challenges of securing international cooperation in the face of intensified regional tensions.

In a series of statements by European defence and foreign ministers, leaders made clear that military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz is not an option for most EU states, pointing instead to diplomatic engagement, strategic clarity, and wider de‑escalation as necessary prerequisites before any coordinated action can be considered.

“What does … Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful U.S. Navy cannot do?” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in Berlin. “This is not our war. We have not started it.”

Similarly, Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stated that Greece would not participate in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that Italy would not extend its naval missions into the contentious waterway.

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Other European foreign ministers emphasised the need for more strategic clarity from Washington before any allied military support could be considered. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said US allies wanted to understand Trump’s overall “strategic goals” and his plan for the wider conflict, while Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said that a formal NATO request would be required for his country’s participation.

“If there is a request via NATO, we will, of course, out of respect and sympathy for our American allies consider it very carefully,” Sikorski said, indicating that any European involvement would likely need to follow collective defence protocols.

In contrast, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen urged EU member states to keep an open mind about helping ensure freedom of navigation through the strait, even if Europe does not endorse the US‑Israeli military campaign. “We must face the world as it is, not as we want it to be,” Rasmussen said, stressing that any engagement should prioritise de‑escalation.

The United Kingdom reiterated its commitment to working with allies to devise a collective strategy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation, but made clear it would not be drawn into a wider war. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain was coordinating with partners on a plan aimed at securing maritime routes while avoiding expansion of the conflict.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters in Brussels that EU leaders would focus on what member states are willing and able to contribute to efforts aimed at reopening the strait. “Of course, the need to open the Strait of Hormuz is there right now,” she said, noting that the closure — which has propelled oil prices above $100 per barrel — was inadvertently benefiting Russia’s war on Ukraine by boosting Moscow’s energy revenues.

Energy Market Response and IEA Actions

Amid political stalemate and pressure on oil markets, the International Energy Agency said it stands ready to release additional strategic oil reserves if needed, describing the current situation as “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.”

Last week, the IEA authorised a record release of 400 million barrels of oil to help cushion the immediate impact of the strait’s effective blockade. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol noted that while recent decline in oil prices showed some relief, the release of reserves is not a lasting solution without assured access through the strait.

“The volume of oil supply offline is already higher than any previous disruption, including the oil crisis of 1973,” Birol said, while confirming that the agency still holds over 1.4 billion barrels in reserve, which could be deployed in future if necessary.

EU, UK Reject Trump’s Call for Military Action to Secure Strait of Hormuz