European and Asia-Pacific capitals resist military involvement
Major Western governments have firmly pushed back against United States President Donald Trump's demand that allied nations deploy naval vessels to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically vital oil transit route that Iran has effectively shut down amid the ongoing conflict now entering its third week.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged that London was collaborating with partner nations to develop a workable strategy for restoring passage through the waterway, but categorically excluded any NATO-led operation from the equation. Germany echoed that position forcefully, with a spokesperson for Chancellor Friedrich Merz declaring that the conflict bore no connection to the Atlantic alliance.
"Let me be clear: that won't be, and it's never been envisioned to be, a NATO mission. That'll have to be an alliance of partners," Starmer said, adding that Britain "will not be drawn into the wider war."
Trump issued his call over the weekend, urging nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain to dispatch warships to escort oil tankers through the strait. He cautioned that any refusal would prove "very bad for the future of NATO". Despite the warning, the response from capitals across Europe and the Asia-Pacific has been decidedly cool.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed that his country's president had already excluded Polish Armed Forces from any such deployment. Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles was equally direct, stating that Madrid was "absolutely not" considering a military contribution. Earlier on Monday, both Japan and Australia signalled reluctance, with Canberra confirming it would not be dispatching a naval vessel to the region.
Oil prices remain elevated as diplomatic efforts intensify
Crude oil prices have surged since the closure of the strait, remaining above $100 per barrel on Monday — a stark reminder of the waterway's critical importance to global energy markets. The sustained volatility has intensified pressure on world leaders to find a path toward reopening the route safely for commercial shipping.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed there would be no military involvement from Berlin, though he indicated Germany stood ready to back diplomatic initiatives aimed at guaranteeing safe transit through the strait.
"We did not want this war. From day one, we have called for de-escalation," Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told media in Brussels ahead of a gathering of EU foreign ministers.
Some European nations attempted to strike a more measured tone without making concrete commitments. Estonia's Foreign Minister Markus Tsahkna said Tallinn remained open to dialogue with Washington on the crisis but stressed the need for greater clarity first.
"However, this primarily means we need to understand the US' objectives and plans in the ongoing conflict," Tsahkna added.
The widespread reluctance among allied nations to commit military resources represents a significant setback for Washington's efforts to assemble an international naval coalition, even as the humanitarian and economic toll of the conflict continues to mount.
