According to a report by the Süddeutsche Zeitung on March 16, after Trump asked NATO allies to help restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the German government responded that NATO should not play a role in the escort issue. German officials pointed out that this war has nothing to do with NATO. NATO is a "defensive alliance" and there is no reason to authorize troops to participate in wars in the Middle East.
In an interview with the British "Financial Times" on the 15th, Trump declared that if allies are indifferent to helping the United States open the Strait of Hormuz, NATO will face a "very bad" future. He claimed that Europe is an important beneficiary of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and "should help ensure that no accidents occur there."
In response to this comment, German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius responded at a press conference on the 16th that the German government has taken note of Trump's statement on NATO, but Germany will not participate in military operations against Iran. "This war has nothing to do with NATO, this is not a NATO war," he said.
Cornelius said that NATO is a "defensive alliance responsible for defending the territories of its member states" and will not authorize the deployment of troops to participate in this war.
On March 3, US President Trump met with German Chancellor Mertz at the White House IC photo
German Defense Minister Pistorius also made a similar statement. He emphasized: "This is not our war, we did not provoke it. We hope to solve the problem through diplomatic means and end the conflict quickly, and further deployment of warships in the area will not necessarily help achieve this goal."
Pistorius said, "We have a responsibility to the eastern flank of NATO and the Atlantic region, especially considering Germany's own geopolitical position. This is our first responsibility." When asked about Trump's warning that NATO members will face a "very bad future," Pistorius said he did not believe NATO would disintegrate because of these differences.
He also made it clear that the EU's Aspides escort operation in the Red Sea will be expanded, but this cannot be the basis for operations in the Strait of Hormuz. "Operation Shield" is a naval escort mission launched by the EU in the Red Sea in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by the Houthi armed forces in Yemen. The deadline has been extended to February 28, 2027.
After the United States and Israel launched a military invasion of Iran, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was blocked, causing international oil prices to soar. The United States' efforts to open up the waterway basically failed, and international oil prices briefly exceeded $106 per barrel on the evening of the 15th.
Despite Trump's high-profile efforts to draw more countries into the water, the United States itself has not yet dispatched naval ships to escort ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The National Public Radio (NPR) reported that U.S. allies are also generally cautious, worried that sending warships may lead to their involvement in the escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy only stated on the 16th that she discussed with UN Secretary-General Guterres how to open the Strait of Hormuz. "Keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is in our interests, so we are discussing what measures Europe can take." British Prime Minister Starmer rejected Trump's request. He emphasized that the UK is working with its allies to formulate a plan to restore shipping, but this will not be a NATO task.
