{"id":34728,"date":"2026-03-17T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T22:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=34728"},"modified":"2026-03-17T08:44:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T06:44:17","slug":"iran-war-is-not-natos-war-european-countries-reject-trumps-call-to-help-reopen-strait-of-hormuz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/iran-war-is-not-natos-war-european-countries-reject-trumps-call-to-help-reopen-strait-of-hormuz\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran war \u2018is not NATO\u2019s war\u2019: European countries reject Trump\u2019s call to help reopen Strait of Hormuz"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

10 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United Kingdom and several European allies have pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s demand for military support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that the escalating confrontation with Iran should not draw NATO into a wider war.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dispute has exposed growing differences between Washington and several of its allies over how to respond to Iran\u2019s disruption of shipping<\/mark><\/a> through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that carries roughly one-fifth of the world\u2019s oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has urged countries that rely on energy shipments passing through the strait to help secure the vital maritime corridor. He called on Britain and other partners to deploy naval forces to escort tankers and protect global energy supplies after Iran responded to U.S.-Israeli strikes by using drones, missiles, and naval mines that effectively halted commercial shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. president said Washington had approached several nations about forming a maritime coalition and warned that failure to support the effort could have \u201ca very bad future\u201d for NATO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European leaders, however, signaled strong reluctance to become directly involved in military operations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out German participation in any naval operation, saying there had been no joint decision to intervene. German defense minister said the conflict was \u201cnot our war\u201d and questioned what a handful of European frigates could achieve in a waterway already dominated by the U.S. Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Strait<\/a>
The Strait of Hormuz map with the Iranian flag, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, and cargo ships. (Image Credit: NASA\/GDFC\/Wikimedia Commons\/U.S. Navy\/Freepix\/IRIA)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pushed back against pressure from President Trump to send military support to the Strait of Hormuz, making clear that UK would not be \u201cdrawn into a wider war\u201d with Iran. While acknowledging the importance of reopening the strait to stabilize global energy markets, Starmer said any action would have to be coordinated with a broad group of international partners. The British government has so far resisted U.S. pressure to deploy warships for tanker escort missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several other allies, including France, Japan, Australia, Spain and Italy, indicated they have no immediate plans to send naval forces to the Gulf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, European officials have emphasized diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting broader concerns that direct military involvement could further escalate the conflict and destabilize global energy markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


UK will not be dragged into wider war on Iran: Starmer tells Trump<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starmer spoke with Trump as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continued to escalate. According to Downing Street, the two discussed the situation in the Middle East, “military cooperation between the UK and U.S. through the use of RAF bases” and the need to reopen the shipping route to reduce disruptions to global trade and energy supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starmer expressed condolences for American service members killed during the conflict. However, the official summary of the conversation did not indicate that Britain had agreed to send warships to the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Monday, Starmer made clear that Britain is working with allies to find ways to reopen the strait but said the UK \u201cwill not be drawn into the wider war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hold a bilateral meeting at Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain, on July 28, 2025. (Image Credit: Reuters\/Evelyn Hockstein)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

British Senior cabinet minister Pat McFadden responded to Trump\u2019s comments, saying the conflict involving Iran is not a NATO mission and does not automatically require allied military support. \u201cIt is not a NATO war, it is a US-Israeli action,\u201d McFadden said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe articles of association of NATO state that it is a defensive alliance. We come to one another\u2019s aid when those articles have been breached. We are deeply committed to NATO, but it was not conceived and does not operate in the kind of situation we are seeing in the Gulf right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McFadden also stressed that Britain\u2019s close relationship with the United States does not mean it must support every American military decision. \u201cWe always take the president seriously, but we have learned in the last 15 months or so since he came into office that there is a lot of rhetoric and statements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that the United Kingdom remains committed to the transatlantic alliance but will decide its involvement based on its own national interests. \u201cThat does not mean we have to support every single decision or military intervention that the US takes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest talks are seen as an attempt to clear the air after recent tensions, as Starmer prevented the U.S. from using a British airbase in the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia after the U.S. and Israel began the bombardment of Iran<\/mark><\/a> on February 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to reports that the UK was mulling sending two aircraft carriers to the region to support the US-Israeli campaign to overthrow or subdue Iran’s government, Trump had said the help was no longer needed. In a post on Truth Social, Trump: “That\u2019s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don\u2019t need them any longer – But we will remember. We don\u2019t need people that join Wars after \u200bwe\u2019ve already won!” <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Germany pushes back, says Iran War \u2018is not NATO\u2019s War\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany, one of Israel\u2019s closest allies in Europe, has also rejected calls by President Trump for NATO allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, insisting the conflict with Iran falls outside the alliance\u2019s mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out participation in any military activity, saying \u201cThere was never a joint decision on whether to intervene. That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise. We will not do so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany\u2019s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was even more blunt. \u201cThis is not our war, we have not started it. What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in the strait of Hormuz that the mighty U.S. navy cannot manage alone? This is the question I find myself asking.\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Smoke<\/a>
Smoke rises in the sky after blasts sounded in Manama, Bahrain, on Feb. 28, 2026. Regional tensions have escalated after U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran. (Image Credit: Reuters)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said the war \u201chas nothing to do with NATO,\u201d emphasizing that NATO is a defensive alliance tasked with protecting member territory. Kornelius also noted that Washington and Israel did not consult European partners before launching the war and had initially indicated that European assistance was neither needed nor requested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Trump warns NATO faces \u2018very bad future\u2019 if allies fail to help US in Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the weekend, Trump publicly urged Britain and other countries to deploy ships to the area to help secure the waterway. He argued that nations benefiting from the strait should take responsibility for protecting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,\u201d Trump said. He also warned that NATO could face a \u201cvery bad\u201d future if allies refused to support Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see if they help us. Because I\u2019ve long said that we\u2019ll be there for them, but they won\u2019t be there for us.\u201d The comments reflect Trump\u2019s long-standing criticism that allies rely too heavily on American military protection while contributing too little themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) transits the Strait of Hormuz as an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the “Nightdippers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 lifts off from the flight deck. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy\/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Stephanie Contrera)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Trump said China gets about 90% of its oil from the strait, while the U.S. gets a minimal amount. He declined to discuss whether China will join the coalition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt would be nice to have other countries police that with us, and we\u2019ll help. We\u2019ll work with them,\u201d Trump said. Previously, he has appealed to China, France, Japan, South Korea, and Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


European Allies Remain Cautious<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several European governments have reacted cautiously to Trump\u2019s call for a naval coalition. Officials in multiple countries have indicated that they do not plan to send warships into the conflict, while discussions continue about whether Europe should take more limited steps to protect shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the crisis and possible adjustments to the EU\u2019s maritime security mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ministers would consider whether the mandate of the bloc\u2019s naval mission should be expanded in response to the growing disruption to global shipping. \u201cIt is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU\u2019s existing mission was created as a defensive operation to protect commercial vessels and monitor maritime activity in the region. However, officials say the current crisis may require a broader response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the discussions, diplomats have signaled that a large European naval coalition similar to what Trump requested is unlikely to emerge. Some countries have also raised concerns that the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran without consulting European allies beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"German<\/a>
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet on the roof of a hotel hosting the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC) as Munich’s famous landmark Church of Our Lady Liebfrauenkirche is seen in the background, in Munich, Germany, on February 13, 2026. (Image Credit: Kay Nietfeld\/Reuters)<\/sup><\/em>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


Energy Crisis Hits UK Households<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While international tensions dominate headlines, the British government has also focused heavily on the economic impact of the conflict. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have pushed global oil prices sharply higher, increasing pressure on energy costs for households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a press conference on Monday, Starmer announced financial support for households that rely on heating oil, which is not covered by Britain\u2019s energy price cap. Around 1.5 million homes depend on heating oil, and prices have more than doubled as shipping disruptions affect global supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starmer said protecting families from rising living costs would remain his government\u2019s top priority. \u201cIt\u2019s moments like this that tell you what a government is about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy answer is clear. Whatever challenges lie ahead, this government will always support working people.\u201d \u201cThat is my first instinct, my priority, to help you with the cost of living through this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prime minister also warned companies against exploiting the crisis to increase prices unfairly. \u201cI will not tolerate companies trying to exploit this crisis to make money from working people,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cIf the companies have broken the law, there will be legal action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the crisis continues, Britain appears determined to balance its alliance with the United States while avoiding deeper military involvement in the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/a>
A view from the bridge of a container ship at the Port of Salalh in Oman, as flames engulf multiple port facilities and oil tanks at the MINA Petroleum Facility, resulting from several impacts by one-way attack drones launched by Iran, on March 11, 2026. (Image Credit: X\/OSINTdefeder)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The United Kingdom and several European allies have pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s demand for military support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that the escalating confrontation with Iran should not draw NATO into a wider war.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28332,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[62,44,1,125],"tags":[45,152,24,357,30,356,59,21,391,702,61,365,91],"class_list":["post-34728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-middle-east","category-news","category-united-states","tag-china","tag-energy","tag-eu","tag-europe","tag-iran","tag-middle-east","tag-nato","tag-oil","tag-ship","tag-trump","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-warship"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UK-European-defense-leaders.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-928","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34728"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34761,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34728\/revisions\/34761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}