Trump Begs Europe to Help Seize the Strait of Hormuz, But Why Was It Rejected? Here Are 4 Reasons
US President Donald Trump has asked his allies in the European Union to participate in efforts to remove the blockade imposed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz as retaliation for the US-Israel war against Iran, but the European side has refused to help secure this vital route for the global economy.
The New York Times states that Europe’s refusal to assist the US in lifting the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is based on legal, military, and economic grounds. The newspaper details these reasons as follows:
- European leaders have never wanted to start a war against Iran, and therefore do not want to get involved because Washington did not consult them on the matter.
It turns out that what Trump wants is only the use of military bases, and the responses from European countries in opening their bases to America vary.
- Europeans justify their rejection of the US request by saying that it is not part of NATO’s duties.
Trump bases his request on the alliance charter which obliges its members to provide ‘assistance’ to the US if that country is attacked.
However, the European side responds by saying this is not how NATO works, which traditionally does not interfere in Middle East affairs, and does not participate in preemptive strikes that members might launch against their enemies.
- In addition, Europe’s refusal is based on the belief that the action may not succeed, because navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is highly vulnerable and dangerous, given that the US Navy itself has not been able to eliminate the Iranian threat in that route.