The United States is increasing pressure on European partners to engage militarily in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump expects specific promises to send warships or other military capabilities to the area in the coming days. Washington is no longer satisfied with the political statements it has made since the beginning of the conflict with Iran. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte informed European representatives about this after Wednesday’s meeting with Trump, TASR reports based on a report from the German weekly Der Spiegel.
- The United States is pressuring Europe to send troops to protect the Strait of Hormuz.
- Donald Trump expects concrete commitments to send ships and military capacities.
- European diplomats perceive the American demand as an ultimatum with direct coercion.
- Germany makes participation in the mission conditional on a UN mandate and a permanent ceasefire.
- Trump threatens to withdraw troops from countries that refuse to support the war against Iran.
Several European diplomats who were informed about the content of Trump’s meeting with Rutte, they perceive the US president’s request as an ultimatum. In recent days, Germany has also signaled its principled willingness to participate in a joint mission in the strategic strait, however, it insists on meeting certain criteria. These include a strong UN mandate and a permanent ceasefire, Der Spiegel recalled.
Trump also puts pressure on NATO partners with other threats. According to American media, he had a list of European countries drawn up that supported or opposed him in the war with Iran. From the territory of those who oppose attacks on Iran, reportedly plans to withdraw American troops. This is mainly about Spain, whose government refused to grant the US Air Force permission to fly fighter jets and refueling planes over its territory.
Berlin did not restrict the US from using military bases on German territory, Nevertheless, Trump included him among the opponents of the war. The statement of the Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius especially served him after that: the war with Iran “is not our war”. The White House attributed them to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who actually expressed himself in diplomatic language less harshly, Der Spiegel noted.
