Europeans oppose Trump’s demands to patrol Hormuz

As tensions between the United States and Iran enter their third week, European leaders are caught between President Donald Trump’s bellicose demands and their deep reluctance to become embroiled in a new conflict in the Middle East.

Although some countries are discussing ways to help reopen the Straits strategic Hormuz, most have rejected Trump’s call to send warships.

European leaders reacted with concern to Trump’s criticism, who warned that their inaction would be “very bad for the future of NATO”. Trump has insisted that countries affected by the oil and gas blockade should send their navies to the danger zone, but officials in Europe are signaling the opposite.

“This is not our war; we didn’t start it!” – declared Boris Pistorius, Germany’s Defense Minister. He emphasized that Berlin seeks a diplomatic solution and believes that increasing military forces in the region does not help in this direction.

Similarly, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed that its navy will remain in the Eastern Mediterranean for defensive purposes only. Even the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, vowed that his country would not be involved in a wider war.

Although he is working with allies to reopen the waterway, Starmer stressed that his leadership is about protecting the British interest, despite external pressures. Also, he clarified that this conflict was never envisioned as a NATO mission, responding to Trump’s accusations that the allies are “backward” in defense.

Economic pressure on Europe is great, with rising energy prices weighing on voters. However, there is a strong sense of déjà vu. Many leaders remember the 2003 invasion of Iraq as a costly mistake based on faulty intelligence.

Today, they face a dilemma: stand idly by while their economy suffers, or enter a war that could lead to military defeat and an endless engagement against Iran. Even Italy and Poland have followed the same line of refusal.

The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, stated that no European country has offered to send ships to force passage through Hormuz. Meanwhile, Polish Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called “disturbing” the fact that Trump refers to NATO as “they” and not as “us”, confirming that Poland has ruled out sending forces to this conflict. /tesheshi

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Source: prizrenpost