After issuing a proposal to form a joint fleet of warships to provide escort for the Strait of Hormuz, Trump did not see the "one call, a hundred responses" scenario he had imagined. European and Asian countries currently do not want to risk sending warships to the Middle East, fearing being drawn into a destructive conflict. This reflects both the lack of support for the U.S.-Israel's aggressive action against Iran, as well as the fragility and division of the U.S. global alliance system.

Trump habitually resorted to retaliatory intimidation, saying that if NATO members refused to help the United States secure the Strait of Hormuz, the alliance would face a "very bad future." He believed that the U.S. had no obligation to help allies on the issue of supporting Ukraine: "We are willing to support them, but they don't stand with us. I'm not sure if they will be on our side."

In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump also emphasized that the U.S. hopes its allies will provide various forms of support, including dispatching mine-sweeping warships to the region. In addition, the White House has hinted that Washington might use European special forces to strike Iranian military personnel who launch drones or lay mines in the Persian Gulf.

Looking back, Trump called on the international community to send warships to the region on Sunday. He directly addressed China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK on the "Truth Social" platform, urging these countries to participate and promised that the Strait of Hormuz would soon become "open, safe, and free."

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump's goal is to establish a coalition to escort merchant ships. However, finding allies for joint operations in the Middle East seems difficult for the U.S. government.

For example, the UK reportedly refuses to deploy naval fleets in the region, although the Daily Telegraph reported that London is willing to consider sending drones to the strait to detect mines. The newspaper pointed out that this position may "intensify" the personal conflict between British Prime Minister Starmer and Trump.

A separate report from the Financial Times noted that France also refused to join the coalition. However, Paris stated that if hostilities cease, it could deploy its own ships to patrol the region. Greece and Germany also hold similar positions.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock openly stated that Berlin will not participate in any international mission to protect merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz. She added that the security of the strait can only be achieved through negotiations with Iran. German Chancellor Scholz was even more direct, stating that Trump did not consult with European allies, including Germany, before launching the war, and the action did not receive authorization from the UN or NATO. Therefore, Germany cannot participate in the Middle East war militarily.

Norway also does not plan to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. Maria Høne, a representative of the Norwegian Defense Ministry, said that Oslo will not respond to the U.S. request and called on all parties to abide by international law, protect civilians, and resolve conflicts through diplomatic means.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell stated that EU foreign ministers are discussing whether to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. She pointed out that the EU already has missions and operations in the region, such as Operation Aspides, and the future may discuss expanding its authority, but the issue lies in whether EU member states are willing to deploy these warships.

The White House's proposal also caught America's Asian allies off guard. According to the Financial Times, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takeda is scheduled to visit the U.S. soon, and she may be asked to respond to this initiative. However, Japan's ability to provide assistance is limited by its constitution.

Takeda explained that due to the unclear legal nature of the mines laid by Iran—whether they constitute an attack or have been "abandoned"—Japan cannot deploy military forces. Nevertheless, Japan has advanced mine-sweeping warships and theoretically could participate in clearing mines from shipping lanes.

South Korea also faces similar pressure. For President Yoon Suk Yeol, refusing to participate in the U.S. action could affect the alliance relationship, while participating could trigger protests domestically.

As for China, analysts believe Beijing is almost certain to ignore Trump's call, as China has already signed agreements with Iran regarding shipping safety.

German political scholar Alexander Rache believes that if the Middle East war continues for a long time, it may lead to actions similar to those against Iraq, Libya, and Syria. Under Trump's pressure (even more like a "ultimatum"), some European countries may send warships to the Persian Gulf.

However, he also pointed out that not all countries will accept the U.S. demands. During the 2003 Iraq War, Germany and France did not support the U.S., and thus faced punishment from Washington and London.

Russian expert and U.S. affairs researcher Dudakov believes that Europe is currently facing an energy crisis, and many European and Asian countries rely on energy transported through the Strait of Hormuz. However, even so, they still hesitate to risk sending warships.

He pointed out that the capabilities of European countries are also limited. For example, the UK currently has only two destroyers available, which is far too small to lift the strait's blockade. The German navy also has serious problems, and France is slightly better, but Paris is unwilling to take risks.

In his view, Washington now finds itself in a dilemma: Trump has to look for allies everywhere, "almost desperately appealing to Europeans and even China, hoping at least someone can provide support."

Russian scholar and professor at Saint Petersburg State University Tkachenko believes that the U.S. is indeed trying to break the current deadlock by seeking support from other countries.

He pointed out that the U.S. alliance system is currently facing a severe test. In the past, Washington's partners often unconditionally participated in its military actions, but now they consider the risks too high and are therefore more cautious.

"Supporting the White House automatically makes you an enemy of Iran and bear the consequences. Therefore, this crisis tests both the effectiveness of the U.S. military action against Iran and the strength of the U.S. alliance system," he said.

He concluded: "In this conflict, Trump may have to 'go it alone'. Some smaller countries, such as Ukraine or Argentina, may symbolically stand with the U.S., but major powers that rely on Middle Eastern oil are likely not to join this alliance."

Original: toutiao.com/article/7618023600548774410/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.