Mar 16, 2026, 1:26 p.mMarch 16, 2026, 8:55 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 Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected German military involvement in protecting oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and harshly criticized US President Donald Trump’s course. NATO is a defense alliance and not an intervention alliance, said the CDU chairman at a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in the Chancellery in Berlin. “That’s why I hope that we treat each other with the necessary respect in the alliance here.” The Iran war is not a NATO affair.
“To date, we are not aware of any concept as to how such an operation could even succeed.”
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Merz said that as long as the war lasts, Germany will not take part in using military means to ensure free shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. “To this day, we don’t know of any concept as to how such an operation could even succeed.”
Merz went on to say that the region should not slide into a “forever war” with unclear goals. “A further expansion of hostilities would bring great risks for our partners in the Middle East and the entire Gulf region.” The same applies to a collapse of the Iranian state order, territorial integrity, statehood and the Iranian economy. “This war must therefore be brought to an end as quickly as possible and with a clear plan and a strategy.”
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.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 will not be a NATO mission and was never intended to be one.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
“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.
Soldiers hold NATO and national flags.Image: keystone
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.
The EU
For the time being, the EU will not take part in a possible military operation to secure oil and gas transport through the Strait of Hormuz. “Nobody wants to be actively drawn into this war,” said EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas in the evening after discussions between the foreign ministers of the member states in Brussels with a view to the Israeli and American attacks against Iran. “This is not our war.”
“This is not our war.”
EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas
The question of possible EU involvement in securing commercial shipping in the strait between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula arose following statements by US President Donald Trump. He had asked European allies to make a contribution. An expansion of the EU operation “Aspides” was previously considered a possible option. This was launched in 2024 to protect commercial shipping through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Kaja Kallas, European Union representative for foreign and security policyImage: keystone
Kallas now said that there was no willingness among member states to extend the mandate for operations to the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, however, the clear desire was expressed to strengthen Operation “Aspides”. The risk that the militant Islamist Houthis from Yemen would interfere in the Iran war was real, she explained. That’s why you have to stay vigilant. The Houthi militia is supported by Iran and has recently announced its “full and unwavering solidarity” with Tehran.
The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the south are considered one of the most important trade routes in the world. They lie between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and form a central connection between the Mediterranean (via the Suez Canal) and the Indian Ocean (via the Bab al-Mandab Strait). The Houthi militia operating from Yemen has repeatedly attacked merchant ships there in the past, which is why they are now being escorted by international forces. Germany is also taking part in the operation, but currently does not have a ship on site. (sda/dpa)
(dab/sda/dpa)