As the conflict between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran continued to spread across the Gulf region, European nations have declined to join the military effort, refusing Donald Trump’s calls for warships at the Strait of Hormuz. The strait had been effectively closed by Iran, cutting off a major artery for global oil and gas trade. European governments argued that military involvement without a clear collective strategy and mandate was not a responsible course of action, and emphasized diplomacy as the preferred path.
Germany’s response was emphatic, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruling out any military role and arguing based on historical experience that bombing campaigns rarely produced the durable political outcomes they promised. His defense minister was equally direct, questioning why European nations should deploy limited naval assets in a conflict that the world’s largest navy had apparently been unable to resolve. Their shared position was one of principled and practical opposition to Trump’s request.
Britain’s Keir Starmer walked a fine diplomatic line, acknowledging the global importance of the strait while avoiding any specific commitments. He promised a viable plan developed through broad international consultation and made clear the UK would not be swept into the wider conflict. Trump remained critical of London’s hesitance but stopped short of fully dismissing Britain as a potential partner.
Italy, Greece, France, Japan, and Australia each declined to participate, and the EU decided not to expand Operation Aspides to cover the Hormuz region. The bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed the outcome of Monday’s ministerial meeting, noting the lack of consensus for changing the mission’s mandate. Estonia made the broader point that European allies needed clarity on American and Israeli strategic goals before committing support.
The conflict continued to expand. Israel struck major Iranian cities in a fresh wave of operations, and Iran launched retaliatory missiles at Israel that were intercepted. Drone attacks disrupted UAE oil exports at the port of Fujairah and caused fires near Dubai airport. Iran rejected ceasefire proposals and warned against US ground deployment. US military losses rose to 13 dead and over 200 wounded, while rights groups reported more than 1,800 deaths in Iran, the majority civilian.