NATO allies and other Western nations have pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s demand for military assistance to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route that Iran has effectively closed.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said London is coordinating with allies to develop a “viable” plan to restore navigation through the strait but ruled out a NATO-led mission. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted that Germany will not engage militarily, stressing, “This war is not a matter for NATO.”
Several European countries, including Poland, Spain, Greece, and Sweden, also distanced themselves from any direct military involvement, while Japan and Australia confirmed they would not send naval ships to the strait.
Trump over the weekend called on nations such as China, France, Japan, South Korea, and Britain to deploy warships to escort tankers, warning that refusal would be “very bad for the future of NATO.” On Monday, he renewed pressure on Britain and France, urging allies to act “quickly and with great enthusiasm” while delaying a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping by “a month or so.”
The closure of the strait has kept oil prices above US$100 per barrel as the Middle East conflict enters its third week, highlighting the strategic importance of safe tanker passage.
Starmer, who has previously faced criticism from Trump over Britain’s reluctance to join US and Israeli offensive actions against Iran, reiterated that any plan would be led by a coalition of partners rather than NATO. “We’re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease economic impacts,” he said.
A NATO official noted that member countries have already enhanced security in the Mediterranean and are discussing possible contributions in the Strait of Hormuz. Denmark and the Netherlands expressed cautious concern: Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called the situation “very, very serious,” while Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten described mounting a short-term mission as “very difficult.”
The responses underline a growing reluctance among Western allies to become militarily involved despite Trump’s push for immediate action in the strategically vital waterway.
