Trump Pressures Allies; Six Nations Firmly Reject Participation in Strait of Hormuz Military Operations
The crisis at the Strait of Hormuz has intensified following military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on 28 February. The attacks, which caused damage and civilian casualties in Tehran, triggered Iranian retaliation through strikes against Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East. As a result, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—the primary shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf nations to global markets—has effectively halted.
This situation directly impacts oil exports and production in the region whilst threatening global energy market stability. Leading petroleum company executives, including ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, and ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance, have warned that shipping disruptions will continue to destabilise global energy markets.
President Donald Trump has sought to pressure European allies and Arab partners to join the US in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On Sunday (15 March), Trump called upon Japan, China, France, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and several other nations to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to restore traffic through the passage.
In a telephone interview with the Financial Times, Trump again pressed European allies, urging them to participate in US operations regarding the strait. He warned NATO allies that the alliance faced “a very bad future” should it fail to secure the strait. Trump stressed that Europe was the primary beneficiary of shipping through the route and should help ensure “nothing bad happens there”.
However, responses from US allies have been mixed. The United Kingdom rejected the idea of NATO-led operations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that plans to reopen shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz should be conducted through partner alliances rather than as a NATO mission. “Let me be clear: it will not be and is not being planned as a NATO mission,” Starmer said at a press conference on Monday (16 March).
France has rejected Trump’s initiative and is currently negotiating with other nations in Europe, the Persian Gulf, and surrounding regions to jointly patrol the strait once Middle East conflicts have ended.
Poland, through its Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, rejected Trump’s proposal by stating that his government “has no plans to participate in such a mission”.
Greece will decline participation if the Aspides naval mission, involving Greek and Italian vessels protecting ships in the Red Sea, is expanded to the Strait of Hormuz, according to Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis.
Sweden sees no necessity for its involvement in ensuring the security of Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated, “There is much talk currently, but it is not relevant for Sweden to participate”. Swedish resources are currently focused on Ukraine.