Release News | "Not Our War": Why Are Multiple European Countries Refusing to Join the U.S. in Joint "Escort" Operations?

Europe Doubts U.S. President Trump’s Proposal to Form a Escort Alliance.

According to CCTV News, since the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a complete halt. Trump plans to announce the formation of a so-called “Hormuz Alliance,” aiming to control the Strait of Hormuz and pressure Europe, Asia, and Gulf countries to send warships to participate.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell responded on the 16th, saying, “This is not Europe’s war,” and stated that EU member states have no intention of expanding the current Red Sea escort operation to the Strait of Hormuz. Germany, the UK, and others also refused any form of military intervention.

Analysts believe that military intervention poses risks to Europe, with European leaders showing very little willingness to engage in combat, considering de-escalation the best way to restore navigation.

Given that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused energy prices in Europe to soar, debates have emerged within the EU about whether to resume importing Russian energy. European leaders may discuss ways to ensure safe passage but are unlikely to send warships.

On March 15, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium, a marine traffic map showing ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz was displayed on a smartphone screen with a map in the background. The photo was taken amid ongoing conflicts involving Iran, which have reduced merchant ship traffic through this critical oil transit route. Visual China Photo

Can Europe do what the U.S. cannot?

German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said on the 16th that the U.S.-Israel military strikes on Iran are “not related to NATO.” He emphasized NATO’s defensive nature, believing that current circumstances do not meet the conditions for NATO to deploy troops.

German Defense Minister Pistorius questioned whether Europe’s smaller navy could have an impact compared to the U.S. “Why does Trump expect just a few European frigates to do what the mighty U.S. Navy cannot? This is not our war; we did not start this war.” He added, “Germany will not send troops to participate in escort missions in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Germany’s stance was echoed by the UK. On the 15th, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with Trump about the Strait of Hormuz. On the 16th, Sunak said that ensuring safe passage “is not an easy task,” and that the UK is working with allies to develop feasible plans, including the use of mine-clearing drones in the region. “Let me be clear: this will not, and has never been, a NATO mission. The UK will not be drawn into a wider war.”

Sunak also stated that resolving the Middle East crisis requires “as many partners as possible” to participate. UK military personnel need important assurances before undertaking potentially dangerous missions. “They should at least know that what they are doing is legally justified and based on a well-thought-out plan,” he said.

The BBC analyzed that, at present, such a plan does not exist. It is hard to imagine U.S. allies following the U.S. in attacking mines anchored at Iranian ports, especially if ground forces are involved. In environments full of potential danger, hesitation among countries to intervene in escort operations is not surprising.

Lithuania and Estonia said that NATO members should consider U.S. requests for assistance but also reminded the U.S. that they need clearer explanations of the potential missions.

Polish Foreign Minister Sikołski believes that the Trump administration should use NATO’s formal channels. “If a request is made through NATO, out of respect and support for the U.S., we will consider it very carefully.”

Sikołski mentioned NATO’s Article 4, which states that if a member believes its territory or security is threatened, NATO members will hold consultations upon any member’s proposal.

On the 16th, Trump criticized countries unwilling to participate in escort missions. “Some are very enthusiastic, others not so much. Over the years, we’ve helped some countries protect themselves from terrible external threats, but they are not so eager about escorting. Enthusiasm matters to me.”

Trump also said that failing to ensure the safety of the Strait of Hormuz would be “extremely detrimental to NATO’s future.” He stated that U.S. Secretary of State Blinken will announce a list of countries willing to assist with navigation.

Former UK Chief of Defence Staff Nick Carter said on the 16th, “NATO was created as a defensive alliance. This is not an alliance for selective wars where allies are forced to follow. I’m not sure we would want to join such NATO.”

About one-fifth of global oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S.-Israeli military actions have effectively shut down the strait, stirring global energy markets. On the 14th, no ships were navigating the strait, the first such occurrence since the outbreak of military conflict.

Refusal to Expand Escort Operations in the Red Sea

Before the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting on the 16th, Josep Borrell said that the simplest way to ensure the safety of the Strait of Hormuz is to utilize the EU’s current Red Sea escort operation, “Operation ASPIDES” (from Greek “Shield”), with some adjustments.

However, expanding the scope of the operation would require amending the mission mandate. Several EU member states expressed reservations.

Ahead of the Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister Álvarez emphasized, “We believe that the current mandate of Operation ASPIDES is appropriate and does not need modification.” German Foreign Minister Baerbock ruled out Germany’s participation.

After the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Borrell refused to expand the mandate of Operation ASPIDES, stating, “This is not Europe’s war, but it is directly related to European interests.” She revealed that the EU is currently pushing for a diplomatic solution to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Borrell, EU member states have discussed strengthening Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea and Gulf region because the current naval deployment is limited, and there is a need for increased presence. However, member states “are not willing” to extend its mandate to escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the outbreak of the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have repeatedly attacked Red Sea shipping lanes, which are vital “maritime lifelines” for Eurasian trade and energy. If navigation is blocked, shipping companies will be forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing transit time and costs.

In February 2024, the EU began implementing Operation ASPIDES, mainly to maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, intercepting drones, anti-ship missiles, and other threats. The operation covers key maritime routes near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and monitors the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the open waters of the Persian Gulf.

In February this year, the EU announced an extension of Operation ASPIDES until February 2027. The current force includes three ships from Italy, Greece, and France, with limited scale.

Among major EU countries, France has proposed expanding Operation ASPIDES to include monitoring and protection in the Strait of Hormuz and parts of the northwest Indian Ocean. After the U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, France indicated plans to deploy eight warships, an aircraft carrier strike group, and two amphibious assault ships to the relevant waters, maintaining at least two frigates to continue participating in ASPIDES and counter Houthi attacks.

French Defense Minister Catherine Watrin stated that there are no plans to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz immediately.

Former UK Royal Navy commander Tom Sharp believes that potential escort operations would be much more complex than ASPIDES because threats come from land, sea, and air. “Unlike the aerial threats from the Houthis, Iran has three types of threats. We need to shoot down these weapons before they are launched, but that’s not always possible,” Sharp said.

U.S. Waiver for Russian Oil and Europe’s Energy Stance

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is driving up energy prices in Europe. According to European Commission President von der Leyen, in the first ten days after the military conflict erupted, rising oil and gas prices have caused Europe to spend an extra approximately 3 billion euros on fossil fuel imports.

“Europe faces supply disruptions, high energy prices, and natural gas storage levels at only 29.2%,” Anna Maria Makariev, chief energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) Europe, told The Paper. She said that the loss of natural gas supply might be twice as much as after the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. In 2025, Russia exported about 37 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe, while Qatar and the UAE exported about 113 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas.

Against this backdrop, voices within the EU are calling for the resumption of Russian energy imports. On the 14th, Belgian Prime Minister De Croo, in an interview, advocated for “normalizing” relations with Russia and reaching agreements to regain cheap Russian energy, calling it “common sense.”

De Croo, who holds right-wing nationalist views, also privately said, “European leaders tell me I am right, but no one dares to say it out loud.”

Members of the ruling coalition quickly distanced themselves from De Croo, and opposition politicians expressed anger. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot issued a statement on the 15th supporting dialogue with Russia, but “dialogue does not mean normalization of relations. Talking about normalization sends a weak signal and undermines the European unity we need now more than ever.”

Politico reported that before De Croo made these controversial remarks, a recent poll showed increasing support for him in both the Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia regions of Belgium. This may explain why he is willing to push sensitive political issues.

In the EU, De Croo’s views sparked debates on sanctions against Russia and energy imports.

On the 16th, the EU Energy Ministers’ meeting was held in Brussels. EU Energy Commissioner Jansen said that the EU’s top priority is to reduce citizens’ energy bills.

Jansen stated that the EU will not re-engage with Russia on energy imports to offset soaring prices. The EU will stick to its established plan to gradually reduce dependence on Russian energy, regardless of current market fluctuations.

On the same day, von der Leyen wrote in a letter to member state leaders that the European Commission is considering relaxing state aid rules and capping natural gas prices to help members cope with energy price surges caused by the Middle East situation.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU has been gradually reducing reliance on Russian natural gas but faces difficulties in securing stable supplies. The Economist noted that the current energy price surge could hinder Europe’s already fragile economic growth and reignite inflation.

The article also pointed out that the longer the conflict lasts, the more Russia benefits. On March 12, to lower oil prices, the U.S. issued a 30-day sanctions waiver allowing countries to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea. However, European leaders, including Chancellor Merz, expressed concern, calling the waiver “a mistake.”

The Paper Journalist Zhu Runyu