Mar 16, 2026, 1:26 p.mMarch 16, 2026, 2:16 p.m
US President Donald Trump is worried about the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, which is extremely important for the international transport of oil and liquefied natural gas, has virtually come to a standstill because of the war and the threat of Iranian attacks. In order to improve the situation, Trump is now insisting on help from other NATO countries – but so far they don’t seem to be interested in it. An overview of the reactions so far.
Donald Trump’s plans are not well received by NATO.Image: keystone
Germany
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has clearly rejected US President Donald Trump’s demands for a NATO operation in the strait between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.
Wadephul said on the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels that he does not see that NATO can be responsible for the Strait of Hormuz. In the event of responsibility, the NATO committees would deal with it accordingly.
Regarding the political course of the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Wadephul said that he wanted to work with the EU foreign ministers for sanctions against those who were responsible for the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This would give our partners in the Persian Gulf a clear signal of support. According to diplomats, the sanctions could, for example, affect actors from the Iranian security apparatus.
The German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.Image: keystone
Other members of the German government also reject Trump’s demands. “This war has nothing to do with NATO. This is not NATO’s war,” said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius in Berlin. It is an alliance for the defense of the alliance territory. There is also a lack of a mandate to use NATO.
Great Britain
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also does not see securing the Strait of Hormuz as a NATO task. “This will not be a NATO mission and was never intended to be one,” said Starmer this morning in London. An alliance of partners in Europe, the Gulf and the USA must be responsible.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Image: keystone
Britain is working with other countries, including in Europe, to develop a viable, joint plan to open the strait, Starmer said. The Strait of Hormuz is of critical importance for the economy. Shipping in the region must be made possible again quickly in order to mitigate the economic impact.
“This is not an easy task,” said Starmer, who reported on a telephone conversation with the US President on Sunday. The British Prime Minister emphasized that Great Britain would not allow itself to be drawn into a major war. But all necessary measures will be taken “to defend ourselves and our allies,” said Starmer.
NATO
NATO itself has also expressed reservations about Trump’s demands for an alliance deployment in the strait between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.
The NATO flag.Image: keystone
Allies have already taken additional security measures in the Mediterranean, said a spokesman in Brussels. It is also known that individual allies are talking to the USA and others about what they could do beyond this – also in connection with security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The spokesman did not comment on the question of whether NATO committees had already discussed a possible alliance deployment in the strait, which is important for global oil and gas transport. There was also no answer to the question under what conditions such an “out-of-area” operation could be conceivable.
Trump had previously used confrontational words to call on NATO allies to help secure oil shipments in the important Strait of Hormuz. NATO will face a bleak future if the US partners do not help, said Trump in a short interview with the Financial Times. If there is “no reaction or if the reaction is negative, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” Trump was quoted as saying.
A NATO operation off the coast of Iran is considered very unlikely, especially because the Strait of Hormuz is not part of the alliance’s territory and the USA cannot therefore invoke the obligation to provide assistance under Article 5. An operation there would therefore be a so-called “out-of-area” operation, which all allies would have to agree to.
(dab/sda/dpa)