Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A deepening rift has emerged within NATO as key U.S. allies refused to join a proposed maritime mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as Israel intensifies its military campaign against Iran with the reported killing of senior Iranian figures in Tehran.
U.S. President Donald Trump had urged allied nations to deploy naval forces to safeguard one of the world’s most critical oil corridors, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass. But European powers and other partners have largely declined, signaling reluctance to be drawn further into a rapidly escalating conflict.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected calls to send warships to escort tankers, instead indicating that London may consider limited technical support such as mine-hunting drones. His stance drew criticism from Trump, who described the UK’s approach as “terrible” and warned that NATO could face serious consequences if allies failed to support Washington.
Despite the criticism, Starmer found backing from Alexander Stubb, who defended the UK leader’s measured response and emphasized that European nations face their own security priorities. Finland, he noted, must remain focused on its long border with Russia and would have little capacity to contribute to operations in the Gulf.
“We have our own backyard to take care of,” Stubb said, calling instead for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis rather than expand it.
Across Europe, similar positions have emerged. Germany firmly rejected the idea of military involvement, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius questioning what additional value European naval deployments would bring alongside the already formidable U.S. Navy. Chancellor Friedrich Merz underscored that no joint NATO decision had been made and ruled out German participation, while cautioning that military force alone would not resolve the crisis with Iran.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed the reluctance, stating that “nobody is ready to put their people in harm’s way” in the Strait of Hormuz. She warned that prolonged disruption could trigger cascading global crises, including shortages in energy, food, and fertilizers, and stressed the need for diplomatic solutions.
Other countries, including Italy and Greece, also distanced themselves from any potential military role. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said diplomacy must prevail, while Athens confirmed it would limit its naval commitments to existing EU missions in the Red Sea. Estonia called for greater clarity from Washington on its long-term strategy before committing support.
The divisions come as Iran signals it is prepared to continue leveraging control over the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic pressure point. In his first remarks since assuming leadership, Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to maintain what he described as a “lever” over the waterway, arguing it represents a key vulnerability for Iran’s adversaries.
Iranian officials have insisted the strait is not fully closed but operating under “special conditions,” allowing passage only for countries not involved in military action against Iran. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of hypocrisy, noting that Washington was now seeking international assistance to secure a route it had helped destabilize through military strikes.
