The transatlantic alliance showed rare defiance yesterday as NATO and European Union members collectively rebuffed President Donald Trump’s demand for naval assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Germany’s chancellor bluntly declaring that “this Iranian regime must come to an end” while simultaneously ruling out military participation.
The rejection marks a significant fracture in US-European relations as the conflict with Iran enters its third week, with the vital waterway through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil flows remaining effectively closed and global energy prices surging past $104 per barrel.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered the most comprehensive rejection, stating unequivocally that Berlin would not participate in any military activity aimed at reopening the strait.
“There was never a joint decision on whether to intervene. That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise. We will not do so,” Merz said.
While expressing concern toward Tehran—”This Iranian regime must come to an end”—Merz cautioned against military solutions, adding that “based on all the experience we have gained in previous years and decades, bombing it into submission is, in all likelihood, not the right approach.”
Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius went further, questioning the logic behind Trump’s demands. “This is not our war, we have not started it. What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in the strait of Hormuz that the mighty US navy cannot manage alone? This is the question I find myself asking.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer adopted a more cautious tone, stating the UK would not be “drawn into the wider war” but acknowledged the necessity of reopening the strait “to ensure stability in the market.” He described this as “not a simple task” and insisted any action would require agreement from “as many partners as possible,” leaving the door slightly ajar while maintaining distance.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made Rome’s position clear on Monday, insisting that “diplomacy needs to prevail.” He cast doubt on extending existing EU naval missions from the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, noting they were “anti-piracy and defensive missions” with no mandate for offensive operations.
The coordinated European rejection came despite President Trump’s explicit threats during a Monday press conference, where he repeated his call for allies to contribute naval assets and warned that NATO faces “a very bad future” if members fail to help secure the waterway.
Trump singled out Britain for particular criticism, saying he was “not happy with the UK” despite believing it would eventually participate. He had earlier told the Financial Times that “it’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there. If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”
Beyond the three major European powers, Australia, France, and Japan also indicated they had no plans to send warships. Greece, which hosts the headquarters for Operation Aspides—the EU’s existing Red Sea mission—confirmed it would not engage in any military operations in the strait.
EU Ministers Close Ranks
Meeting in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers unanimously decided against extending the remit of their small naval mission in the Red Sea. A proposal to modify Operation Aspides’ mandate to help secure the Strait of Hormuz generated minimal enthusiasm among member states.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged the divide, stating: “There was in our discussions a clear wish to strengthen this operation, but for the time being there was no appetite in changing the mandate.”
European ministers collectively demanded greater clarity regarding Washington and Jerusalem’s war objectives. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna articulated this sentiment directly, saying US allies in Europe wanted to understand Trump’s “strategic goals. What will be the plan?”
Conflict Escalates Across Gulf
The diplomatic standoff unfolded against a backdrop of intensifying Iranian strikes on Gulf infrastructure. Dubai’s international airport—the world’s busiest for international passengers—saw flights temporarily suspended Monday after a fire broke out near the facility following what authorities described as a “drone-related incident.”
The strategically vital port and industrial zone at Fujairah, one of the region’s largest oil storage facilities, also came under drone attack, with fires raging at the facility. Saturday saw an oil storage tanker struck, and Monday’s attack directly hit oil facilities, temporarily halting loading activities for damage assessments.
A separate rocket attack on a vehicle killed a Palestinian national on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, according to the city’s Media Office, with the incident occurring in the Al Bahia area.
The UAE Defence Ministry reported its air defence systems intercepted six ballistic missiles and 21 drones on Monday alone. Since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran began, Tehran has launched over 1,900 missiles and drones at UAE targets.
The choice of Fujairah as a target carries particular strategic significance. Located on the UAE’s eastern coast along the Gulf of Oman rather than the Persian Gulf, vessels can reach the port without navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
Dubai-based analyst Justin Harper, editor of CEO Middle East, explained to the BBC that this location gives Fujairah a “crucial” role in “helping keep global supplies moving” when Iran blocks the Hormuz chokepoint. “If tensions with Iran disrupt the chokepoint, the UAE can still export oil through Fujairah via pipelines from the oilfields in Abu Dhabi,” he noted.
Monday’s drone strike marked the third incident near Dubai airport since hostilities commenced, each further eroding the UAE’s carefully cultivated image of safety and stability.
South Africa Defies US Pressure
In a parallel diplomatic confrontation, South Africa’s Director General of Foreign Affairs, Zane Dangor, firmly rejected US demands that Pretoria distance itself from Tehran. Speaking after new US Ambassador Leo Bozell was quoted suggesting South Africa’s relationship with Iran impeded better Washington ties, Dangor was unequivocal.
“We have not any reason to cut ties with Iran,” Dangor told Reuters, while acknowledging Pretoria maintained a nuanced position. “We are not absolutely uncritical of Iran,” he noted, pointing to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government having admonished Tehran for its January crackdown on protesters and for attacking neighbors in the latest conflict.
Dangor framed the issue within broader non-alignment principles: “We cannot be pulled into the sort of sphere of influence politics that great powers want to pull us into, and that in this instance includes the US.”
The diplomatic friction comes amid already strained US-South Africa relations. In August, Trump imposed a 30 per cent tariff on imports from South Africa—a potentially devastating blow to an economy where a third of the population faces unemployment.
Ties have remained at a low ebb since Trump accused South Africa’s Black majority government of persecuting its white minority, repeating unsubstantiated claims about land seizures circulating in far-right online spaces.
Dangor also dismissed other Trump administration demands, including dropping South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, scrapping Black economic empowerment laws, or accepting a refugee programme for white South Africans.
War Enters Third Week With No End in Sight
Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters Monday that detailed operational plans exist for at least three more weeks of combat, with additional plans extending further ahead. Israel has struck ballistic missile infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and security apparatus targets, aiming to “degrade all their capabilities, all parts and all wings of their security establishment,” Shoshani said, adding that thousands of targets remain.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, meanwhile, denied through Iran’s semi-official Student News Network that Tehran had requested a ceasefire or exchanged messages with Washington. In a social media post, Araqchi warned that “neighbouring states” hosting US forces and permitting attacks on Iran were “actively encouraging the killing of Iranians,” demanding that “stances should be promptly clarified.”
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows—has pushed energy prices to their highest levels since July 2022, reaching $104 per barrel on Monday. The sustained disruption raises fresh fears of global inflationary spikes as the conflict shows no signs of resolution entering its third week.
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