German media: NATO allies refuse to join blockade operation; UK PM: No matter the pressure, Britain will not be dragged into this war

Trump announced that starting Monday, all Iranian ports would be blockaded. However, prior to the launch of this operation, NATO allies have clearly stated they will not join.

U.S. NATO allies said on Monday they would not participate in President Trump’s proposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a stance that further intensifies already fragile transatlantic alliance tensions.

Trump previously stated that after weekend talks failed to reach an agreement ending the six-week conflict with Iran, the U.S. military would cooperate with other countries to blockade all maritime traffic through this critical waterway. The U.S. military later clarified that the blockade would begin at 14:00 GMT on Monday, but only targeting vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports.

"The blockade is about to start. Other countries will join this blockade operation," Trump posted on his "Truth Social" platform on Sunday.

However, NATO allies including the UK and France stated they would not be drawn into the conflict by participating in the blockade. London and Paris emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

As NATO allies refusing to join Trump’s proposed blockade, tensions between transatlantic partners have intensified once again. Trump has threatened to exit NATO and is considering withdrawing some troops from Europe. Previously, several countries refused to support U.S. military actions against Iran and banned U.S. military aircraft from using their airspace and air bases during missions.

"No matter how much pressure there is, Britain will not be dragged into this war."

"We do not support this blockade," UK Prime Minister Starmer said in an interview with the BBC.

He added: "My decision is very clear – no matter how great the pressure, which indeed is significant, Britain will not be dragged into this war."

According to diplomatic sources who spoke to Reuters last week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had informed European governments that Trump hopes to see concrete commitments from countries on ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz in the near future.

Rutte said on April 9 that if all 32 NATO member states could agree on launching a mission, NATO could play a role in the Strait of Hormuz.

Some European countries have expressed willingness to assist in securing the waterway under favorable conditions, but only if hostilities end continuously and an agreement is reached with Iran to ensure its ships are not attacked.

On Monday, French President Macron said on social media platform X that France would work with the UK and other nations to organize a meeting aimed at establishing a multinational task force to restore navigation in the strait.

Macron emphasized: "This will be strictly defensive in nature, must remain distinct from any belligerent parties, and will be deployed when circumstances allow."

A senior EU official revealed that the UK is currently studying ways to reduce insurance costs for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz should a ceasefire be achieved.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened through diplomatic means. He noted that establishing an international force to oversee the waterway would be highly complex and called on NATO to reassess its relationship with Trump during its summit in Ankara this July.

China: Blocking the Strait of Hormuz would harm the common interests of the international community

In a statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday in Beijing during a meeting with visiting UAE officials that blocking the Strait of Hormuz does not serve the common interests of the international community. He also stressed that China “fully understands the reasonable security concerns of Gulf Arab states” and that “achieving comprehensive and lasting ceasefire through political and diplomatic means is the fundamental way to resolve the issue.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on Monday that the root cause of disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz lies in the ongoing conflict in Iran, and the solution to this problem is to achieve a rapid ceasefire. He added that addressing energy security fundamentally requires first promoting peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East regions.

Sources: DW, Reuters, AFP, etc.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862375640260616/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author