by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
THE HAGUE/BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – In an unprecedented rebuke to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, European countries on Monday declined his request to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas until its effective closure by Iran.
Despite Trump’s renewed threats that the NATO military alliance faces “a very bad future” if members fail to help free the waterway, major powers including Germany ruled out participation in any military activity.
“There 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,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
He added that while “this Iranian regime must come to an end,” bombing it into submission would likely not be the right approach.
Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said: “This is not our war. What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates that the mighty U.S. Navy cannot manage alone?”
EUROPE REJECTS MILITARY ROLE
Italy also rejected involvement, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stressing that diplomacy must prevail.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom would not be “drawn into the wider war,” though he left open the possibility of coordinated international action.
European nations have emphasized diplomatic efforts to reopen the strategic passage.
European Union ministers meeting in Brussels declined to expand the mandate of the bloc’s naval mission in the Red Sea.
“There was in our discussions a clear wish to strengthen this operation, but for the time being there was no appetite in changing the mandate,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
EU SHOWS LITTLE APPETITE FOR EXPANSION
Countries including Greece also ruled out participating in military operations in the strait.
Australia and Japan likewise indicated they had no plans to deploy warships.
Additionally, the situation has renewed questions about Europe’s military readiness following years of relatively low defence spending.
The Dutch air-defence frigate HNLMS Evertsen has begun operations near Cyprus despite its main naval gun being temporarily out of action.
Commander Marcel Keveling said the ship remains capable of fulfilling its defensive role. “I have sufficient alternative weapons systems,” he said.
DUTCH WARSHIP DEPLOYED WITH LIMITATIONS
The vessel, carrying about 180 personnel, is operating as part of a multinational naval presence supporting the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
The deployment follows rising regional tensions after an Iranian-made drone struck the British base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
In separate incidents, drone-related attacks disrupted operations near Dubai International Airport and sparked a fire at the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key oil transit hub just outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel said it launched a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure in Iranian cities including Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz.
Iran rejected calls for a ceasefire.
CONFLICT ESCALATES ACROSS REGION
“Our refusal of a ceasefire does not mean we want war,” said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “But this war must end in a way that prevents future aggression.”
The conflict has pushed up global energy prices and raised fears of a broader regional war, with casualties reported among U.S. forces and across the Middle East.
The developments have heightened concerns in Europe and elsewhere about the stability of global energy markets and the risk of further escalation in an already volatile region.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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