European leaders have bluntly rejected a request from Donald Trump to send military forces to fight Iran or secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route disrupted by the ongoing US–Israel war on Iran.
At a meeting of the European Union in Brussels, multiple governments made their position clear: they are not joining the war. Germany, UK, Italy, Greece and others signaled they will not deploy warships to the Gulf.
Germany’s defence minister put it bluntly:
“This is not our war. We have not started it.”
He also questioned why Europe should send a handful of ships when the powerful US Navy is already operating in the region.
The disagreement comes as the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway carrying about 20% of the world’s oil faces disruption due to the escalating conflict involving United States, Israel, and Iran. Oil prices have already surged as shipping through the route slows.
While Washington is pushing for an international naval coalition, European leaders say their focus is diplomacy and de-escalation, not expanding the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has complained that some allies lack “enthusiasm” about helping secure the waterway. But Europe’s response remains firm:
They want the crisis solved just not by joining another Middle East war.
