Leaders of the European Union have pushed back against a call by U.S. President Donald Trump for allied nations to deploy naval forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.
The rejection came during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where officials gathered to assess the impact of rising oil prices triggered by the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
Trump had urged countries including the United Kingdom, Japan, France, China, South Korea and NATO allies to send warships to ensure safe passage through the vital oil route.
He warned that failure to act could have consequences for the future of NATO.
However, European leaders expressed caution, insisting they needed greater clarity on U.S. objectives before committing to any military involvement.
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, said Berlin had no intention of joining military operations in the region, stressing the need for transparency from Washington and its allies.
“We expect to be informed and included in what is happening, and to know when the objectives have been achieved,” he said.
Germany’s position was reinforced by government officials, who emphasized that the conflict does not fall under NATO’s collective defense mandate.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius questioned the practicality of European involvement, asking what a limited number of European naval vessels could achieve compared to the capabilities of the U.S. Navy.
Similarly, Greece and Italy ruled out participation in military operations in the strait, while Poland signaled it would only consider involvement if a formal request was made through NATO channels.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc’s priority was to determine what role, if any, member states were willing to play in reopening the strategic waterway.
She noted that the closure of the strait has pushed global oil prices above $100 per barrel and could indirectly benefit Russia’s war efforts due to increased energy revenues.
Some European officials, including Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, urged a more open-minded approach, emphasizing the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation while pursuing de-escalation.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain was working with allies on a collective plan to reopen the strait but stressed that the country would avoid being drawn into a wider war.
Amid the growing crisis, the International Energy Agency said it was prepared to release additional oil reserves if necessary to stabilize global markets.
The agency had already released a record 400 million barrels of oil to offset supply disruptions caused by the blockade of the strait.
Its Executive Director, Fatih Birol, described the situation as the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, though he noted that strategic reserves were only a temporary solution as long as uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz persists.
Despite U.S. efforts to build a multinational coalition, divisions among allies highlight growing concerns over the risks of deeper military involvement in an already volatile conflict.
