BRUSSELS (AP) 鈥� European countries on Monday sought more details about U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans for the and warned that NATO must not become involved in it, as they weighed whether to agree to his call to send warships to help shore up security in the Persian Gulf.
The cool response to Trump鈥檚 demand reflects wide caution about the U.S.-Israeli war among allies kept in the dark before, and largely since, it was launched on Feb. 28.
Trump has 鈥� including France, China, Japan, South Korea and Britain 鈥� to help secure the Strait of Hormuz for global shipping. He said the United States was talking to 鈥渁bout seven鈥� countries, but he wouldn鈥檛 say which ones and gave no indication of when such a coalition might be formed.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted Britain 鈥渨ill not be drawn into the wider war,鈥� and said British troops should only be sent into action that is legal and has 鈥渁 proper thought-through plan.鈥� But his country is considering other forms of help in conjunction with allies.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump also warned that 鈥渋f there鈥檚 no response or if it鈥檚 a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.鈥�
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that 鈥淣ATO is a defensive alliance, not an interventionist one. And that is precisely why NATO has no business being involved here.鈥� He said he hopes that NATO allies 鈥渨ill treat one another with the necessary respect within the alliance.鈥�
Merz agreed that 鈥渢his Iranian regime must come to an end,鈥� but he said that “based on all the experience we have gained in previous years and decades, bombing it into submission is, in all likelihood, not the right approach.鈥�
EU debates Trump’s demand
Many are keen to know when the war will end.
At a meeting in Brussels, where European Union foreign ministers gathered to discuss Trump’s demand, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said it’s important for the U.S. and Israel to define 鈥渨hen they consider the military aims of their deployment to have been reached.鈥�
鈥淲e need more clarity here,鈥� Wadephul told reporters.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also said that U.S. allies in Europe want to understand Trump鈥檚 鈥渟trategic goals. What will be the plan?鈥�
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski invited the Trump administration to go through the proper channels.
鈥淚f there is a request via NATO, we will of course out of respect and sympathy for our American allies consider it very carefully,鈥� he said. Sikorski made a reference to Article 4 of NATO’s founding treaty, which allies can invoke if they believe their territory or security is under threat.
Acting in Europe’s interests
Still, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that 鈥渋t is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.”
Kallas had urged the 27 member countries to expand the EU’s to protect shipping in the Red Sea up into the Persian Gulf. But after chairing the meeting, she said there had been 鈥渘o appetite鈥� to boost its mandate.
But Kallas said the EU would closely monitor threats to maritime security also in the Red Sea, where Aspides operates with three warships. 鈥淭he risk that the Houthis get involved is real. So we must remain vigilant,鈥� she said.
Yemen鈥檚 Iran-backed Houthi rebels have so far remained on the sidelines of the war even as it has spread across the Middle East, raising questions about why, and perhaps when, the battle-hardened group might join the fight.
It was not immediately clear whether some European countries might go it alone and form a 鈥渃oalition of the willing鈥� to provide military support on an ad hoc basis.
鈥淭his is not a NATO issue,鈥� retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe. 鈥淚t鈥檚 up to individual nations who are also members of NATO to decide if they want to deploy capabilities to secure the Strait of Hormuz,鈥� he said.
In an interview with The Associated Press, he said most European leaders will view the war with Iran as 鈥渁 war of choice by the United States,鈥� and leaders, including Britain鈥檚 Starmer, may think 鈥渨hy should the Royal Navy have to come participate.鈥� That said, he noted that European nations have an interest in keeping oil and gas flowing through the strait.
The war in Iran has driven up energy prices worldwide, with Brent . The conflict has also disrupted beyond oil, affecting things like pharmaceuticals from India, semiconductors from Asia and oil-derived products like fertilizers that come from the Middle East.
Cargo ships are stuck in the Gulf or making a much longer detour around the southern tip of Africa. Planes carrying air cargo out of the Middle East are grounded. And the longer the war drags on, the more likely that there will be shortages and price increases on a wide range of goods.
France has said it is working with countries 鈥� French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned partners in Europe, India and Asia 鈥� on a possible mission to escort ships through the strait but has stressed it must be when 鈥渢he circumstances permit,鈥� when fighting has subsided.
French senior officials, speaking anonymously on ongoing talks, said the Netherlands, Italy and Greece had shown interest and that Spain might be involved in some way.
Starmer said Britain is discussing with the U.S. and allies in Europe and the Gulf the possibility of using its mine-hunting drones already in the region.
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Associated Press writers Geir Moulson and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Jill Lawless in London, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Emma Burrows in London contributed to this report.
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