"The U.S. military is conducting strikes on Iranian anti-ship positions along the shores of the Strait of Hormuz to decimate Iran's ability to attack oil tankers. Meanwhile, the White House and State Department are trying to build a coalition of countries to provide ships, other military assets and political backing for a mission to escort ships or otherwise provide a secure route for shipping in and out of the Gulf."
"A source with knowledge said that while Starmer was forward-leaning, Macron was noncommittal. 'Macron didn't give a final no, but at the moment it's a no,' a second source said."
"European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting with foreign ministers of the 27 member states that 'there is no appetite' in the EU to join Trump's Hormuz coalition. 'This is not Europe's war,' she said."
The Trump administration is employing dual strategies to address the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Militarily, the U.S. is conducting strikes on Iranian anti-ship positions to reduce threats to oil tankers. Diplomatically, the White House seeks to assemble a multinational coalition including the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada, Gulf states, Jordan, Japan, and South Korea to provide naval assets and escort shipping. However, coalition-building faces obstacles: Germany, Italy, and Japan have declined to send naval vessels. While Trump reported positive conversations with U.K. Prime Minister Starmer and French President Macron, sources indicate Macron remains noncommittal despite Trump's optimistic assessment. The U.K. has drafted a multinational task force plan, but consensus remains elusive. European Union leadership explicitly stated there is no appetite for participation, characterizing the situation as not Europe's responsibility.
#strait-of-hormuz #international-coalition #diplomatic-resistance #military-strategy #shipping-security
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