A unified response from European nations has dealt a significant blow to Donald Trump’s efforts to assemble a naval coalition for the Strait of Hormuz, with major governments across the continent declining to send warships. Trump had framed the request as an obligation of those who benefit from the strait’s trade, warning of dire consequences for NATO if allies refused. But European governments consistently returned to the same arguments: the conflict was not theirs to fight, and military escalation without a clear plan was not a responsible approach.
Germany’s response was the most forceful. Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Berlin would not participate militarily in any way, citing the absence of a collective decision to intervene as well as historical lessons about the limitations of force. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius raised a challenge to Trump’s logic by asking what European frigates could add to a situation where American naval dominance had already proven insufficient. Their comments underscored a deep skepticism in Berlin about the wisdom of the entire military enterprise.
Britain’s Keir Starmer sought a middle path, acknowledging the importance of restoring access to the strait while making no commitments about how the UK would contribute. He stressed the need for multilateral agreement before any action was taken and acknowledged the difficulty of the task. Trump’s complaints about Britain’s hesitance were notable but did not appear to have shifted Starmer’s position significantly.
Italy and Greece declined to participate, and the EU’s foreign ministers decided not to expand Operation Aspides beyond its current Red Sea mandate. France, Japan, and Australia each confirmed their absence from any potential naval coalition. Estonia’s foreign minister articulated a widely shared concern by asking what the ultimate strategic goals of the US and Israel actually were.
The military campaign continued to intensify, with Israel announcing strikes on Tehran, Tabriz, and Shiraz and claiming comprehensive operational plans for the weeks ahead. Iranian missiles were intercepted over central Israel, and drone attacks disrupted UAE energy infrastructure and air operations near Dubai. Iran’s foreign minister rejected ceasefire talks, and Tehran warned Washington against deploying ground forces. US casualties rose to 13 dead and over 200 wounded, and human rights groups in Iran reported more than 1,800 deaths, with the majority among civilians.