The response from Europe to Donald Trump’s demand for warships at the Strait of Hormuz was clear and collective: diplomacy, not military force, is the preferred response. European leaders from Germany to Italy declined to commit naval resources to reopening the passage, which has been blocked by Iran and carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas. Trump’s warning that NATO’s future depended on allied action did little to shift the European consensus.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz took the most definitive stance, declaring flatly that there was no basis for German military involvement. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius offered a pointed observation, asking what exactly Trump expected from European frigates that the full might of the US Navy could not manage on its own. Together, their statements conveyed a Germany that was not opposed to the objective of reopening the strait but firmly opposed to the method being proposed.
Britain’s Keir Starmer attempted to balance loyalty to Washington with domestic caution, committing to work on a plan without specifying what it would entail. He cited the need for the broadest possible coalition before taking any steps and framed the reopening of the strait as an international priority. The UK’s position left Trump frustrated but reportedly still hopeful that London would ultimately contribute in some form.
Italy signaled its opposition by calling for diplomacy to prevail and confirmed that no existing naval mission could be extended to the area. EU ministers declined to alter the mandate of Operation Aspides in the Red Sea following their Monday meeting. Greece, France, Japan, and Australia each independently rejected participation, further isolating Trump’s coalition-building initiative.
The military and humanitarian dimensions of the conflict continued to grow more alarming. Israel reported conducting strikes on infrastructure in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, and described plans stretching weeks into the future. Iran rejected a ceasefire and launched retaliatory missiles at Israel, which were intercepted over central areas. The UAE experienced drone attacks that disrupted both a key oil port and air traffic near Dubai. US military authorities confirmed 13 troop deaths and approximately 200 wounded, while reports from inside Iran suggested civilian fatalities had exceeded 1,800.
