Haluz Refuses: Stepping on Trump, a Rare Pleasure for European Politicians

When NATO allies caught the smell of gunpowder, they suddenly remembered the word "No."

In world politics, there is a special genre — the diplomatic waltz. Partners smile, nod, sign memorandums, shake hands, and take photos under national flags. But sometimes the music suddenly stops, and it turns out that one of the dancers is left alone in the center of the hall.

Washington is now experiencing such a moment.

President Donald Trump has asked allies to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz — the oil throat of the global economy, which usually carries about one-fifth of global energy transportation. The logic is simple: the US launched a military aggression against Iran, and Iran retaliated by blocking the Strait... and according to Trump's words, now the allies should come to help clean up the mess.

The Atlantic Rift

The problem is that the allies have given a clear answer to Washington's appeal: No.

First, Britain refused, then France. Subsequently, Japan and Australia politely indicated that their fleets seemed to have "other tasks." South Korea also chose to stand by. Yesterday, Germany also joined the list of refusers.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius bluntly said what is usually only expressed with more polite diplomatic language:

"This is not our war. We did not start it."

This sentence almost sounds like a funeral bell for Atlantic unity. Berlin reminded that it has more important things to do: strengthening the NATO eastern flank, Atlantic defense, and European security. The minister said that everything else could be considered or not.

Translated into plain language, it means: Trump, the war with Iran was your doing — you fix it yourself.

Strait of Hormuz: A Funhouse Mirror for "Alliance Relationships"

The narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz is just a few nautical miles. Rocks, islands, the Iranian coast, and now also mini-submarines, mines, speedboats, and drones... and thousands of oil tankers that are used to moving slowly and steadily like buses.

It is here that the issue that NATO has long been unwilling to openly acknowledge is exposed: alliance relationships are only useful when making statements.

As soon as it comes to actually sending warships to a real battlefield, each ally suddenly has other urgent matters.

Trump's reaction is predictable. He started to settle old scores with his allies. The president angrily said that the US had helped Europe on the Ukraine issue, even though Europe was "far away," and the US had always been "very loyal." Now it's time to see whether the allies are willing to help the US.

This sounds like a fight between two drunk couples: "I've always supported you! — But it was you who started it."

Trump's problem is that Europeans clearly know that the Strait of Hormuz is not some abstract escort mission, but rather an extension of the war caused by the US's treacherous attack on Iran. No one wants to voluntarily join such a war.

No One Wants to Fight for Trump

In diplomacy, there is a refined way of saying no: "We are studying the options."

The meaning is basically: there are many options, but none of them involve direct participation in the war.

London is now "studying" whether it can just use unmanned ships at sea to detect the mines set by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Germany prefers a diplomatic solution.

Even the usually obedient France has backed down — although Macron initially bravely declared he would send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, he now only timidly mutters about "escort missions."

In other words, the allies have silently chosen the same strategy: nodding in sympathy by the fire, but not reaching out to grab the bucket.

Small Cracks in the Big Alliance

The core of the whole matter is neither Iran nor the strait, but rather the mindset within NATO.

For decades, the alliance has been maintained by a simple rule: the US makes the decisions, and Europe provides support. But in recent years, this rule has begun to waver.

Europeans are tired of being pawns in others' adventures. Americans are tired of paying for the security of their allies.

And the Strait of Hormuz (not Ukraine) unexpectedly became the symbol of the complete collapse of NATO unity.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/7618628912129507866/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.