{"id":30624,"date":"2026-03-17T06:47:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T06:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/?p=30624"},"modified":"2026-03-17T06:47:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T06:47:24","slug":"european-leaders-reject-military-involvement-in-the-strait-of-hormuz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/?p=30624","title":{"rendered":"European leaders reject military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pushback comes as US President Donald Trump says NATO allies should help secure key waterways amid soaring oil prices.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tankers sail in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, on March 11, 2026 [File: Stringer\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>European leaders have rejected demands by United States President Donald Trump \u2060to help ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joining a European Union gathering in Brussels on Monday to discuss skyrocketing oil prices during the\u00a0US-Israeli war on Iran<\/a>, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin had no intention of joining military operations during the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need more clarity here,\u201d Wadephul told reporters ahead of the meeting. \u201cWe expect from the US and Israel to inform us, to include us into what they\u2019re doing there and to tell us if these goals are achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce we have a clear picture of that, we believe we need to move into the next phase, namely, defining a security architecture for this entire region, together with the neighbouring states,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, speaking from Berlin, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that while there would be \u201cno military participation\u201d from his country, it was prepared to support diplomatic efforts \u201cto ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is not our war. We have \u2060not started it,\u201d said Pistorius. \u201cWhat does \u2026 Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful \u2060US Navy cannot do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also speaking from Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz\u2019s spokesman said the conflict has \u201cnothing to do with NATO\u201d. Stefan Kornelius told reporters NATO was \u201can alliance for the defence of territory\u201d, adding that \u201cthe mandate to deploy NATO is lacking\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany\u2019s position was echoed by fellow NATO member the United Kingdom. Speaking from London about joining any mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: \u201cLet me be clear: that won\u2019t be, and it\u2019s never been envisioned to be, a NATO mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starmer stressed the UK would \u201cnot be drawn into the wider war\u201d. However, he said the UK was discussing with the US and allies in Europe and the Gulf the possibility of using its mine-hunting drones already in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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