Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Greece have all ruled out sending naval forces to support the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, exposing a growing rift inside NATO at the very moment global energy routes are under threat.
Within hours of Washington’s request, European governments had distanced themselves from the operation and insisted that NATO has neither the mandate nor the interest to enter a war with Iran.
The refusal has triggered another dispute inside the Atlantic alliance. President Donald Trump has linked European participation in Hormuz to the future of NATO, warning that the United States cannot continue guaranteeing Europe’s security if Europeans refuse to support American operations abroad.
Several capitals reacted with irritation. Spain’s foreign minister even suggested that Europe may need to reduce its dependence on NATO and revive the idea of a European army. But the real problem is that Europe was caught off guard again.
