PARIS/LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) — NATO allies announced on Monday that they would not participate in U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to block the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, they suggested that their involvement would only happen once fighting comes to an end. This decision might irritate Trump and create more tension within the alliance.
Trump stated that the U.S. military would collaborate with other nations to stop all maritime traffic in the waterway after weekend discussions failed to resolve the six-week conflict with Iran. The U.S. military clarified that the blockade, which was supposed to start at 1400 GMT on Monday, would only affect ships traveling to or from Iranian ports.
Since the conflict began on February 28, Iran has mostly shut off the strait to all ships except its own, aiming to make its control over the area permanent and possibly charge fees to vessels that pass through.
“The Blockade will begin shortly. Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday.
However, NATO members like Britain and France stated that they would not get involved in the blockade and were instead focusing on a plan to reopen the waterway, which normally accommodates a fifth of the world's oil supplies.
Their decision not to participate adds to the tension with Trump, who has threatened to pull the U.S. out of NATO and is considering removing some U.S. troops from Europe after several countries denied U.S. military planes access to their airspace for strikes on Iran.
“We’re not supporting the blockade,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC.
“My position has been clear: despite the significant pressure, we will not be drawn into the war,” he added.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte informed European governments that Trump is seeking concrete commitments soon to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats revealed to Reuters last week.
Rutte mentioned that NATO could play a role in the strait if its 32 members agree to establish a mission.
Many European countries have expressed willingness to assist in the strait, but only after a lasting peace is established and there is an agreement with Iran ensuring the safety of their ships.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated on X that France would organize a conference with Britain and other nations to form a multinational mission aimed at restoring navigation in the strait.
“This strictly defensive mission, separate from the warring parties, will be deployed as soon as the situation allows,” Macron noted.
The goal of the initiative is to set rules for safe passage and to coordinate military vessels to escort tankers, Starmer explained in parliament on Monday.
“Let me be very clear, this is about protecting shipping and supporting freedom of navigation once the conflict ends. Our shared goal is a coordinated, independent, multinational plan,” he said.
A meeting to formulate plans for the mission, which involves around 30 countries, including Gulf nations, India, Greece, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden, could take place as soon as Thursday in Paris or London, according to a French diplomatic source.
The military vessels would offer reassurance without engaging in hostilities, the source said, adding that both Iran and the U.S. would be informed about the mission but would not take part in it directly.
Another European diplomatic source raised doubts about whether Trump would welcome a mission now that he has ordered the blockade.
“Since Trump is now leveraging the strait for his purposes, does he even want a mission there?” the source questioned.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened through diplomatic means on Monday and warned that establishing an international force to oversee it would be challenging. He called for NATO to improve its relationship with Trump at a summit in Ankara scheduled for July.