European Union foreign ministers have rejected a request from US President Donald Trump to extend a naval protection mission to the Strait of Hormuz, insisting the current conflict with Iran is not Europe’s war.
The decision, taken at a meeting in Brussels on Monday, concerned expanding the mandate of Operation Aspides — currently limited to the Red Sea — to escort tankers through the vital Gulf waterway disrupted by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there was “no appetite” for the change, adding: “While the Strait of Hormuz is at the centre stage, the Red Sea also remains critical.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose country is not an EU member but participates in NATO discussions, echoed the stance: “We will protect our people in the region… we will not be drawn into the wider war.”
Trump had warned NATO allies that failure to assist could mean a “very bad” future for the alliance, telling the Financial Times that countries benefiting from Gulf oil flows must help reopen the route.
The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments, but traffic has virtually halted since the conflict escalated on February 28, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel.
No formal NATO request has been made, though ambassadors are scheduled to discuss the situation. The EU is instead exploring limited UN-brokered shipments of food and fertiliser.
