Europeans mull US request to help open Hormuz Strait, seek clarity on war goals

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says bloc could expand existing Red Sea naval operation into Persian Gulf as countries aim to secure vital shipping route closed by Tehran

The European Union is seeking more strategic clarity about the US and Israel’s plans for Iran and when the conflict might end as the bloc weighs whether to send ships to help shore up security in the Persian Gulf.

US President Donald Trump has asked allies — including France, China, Japan, South Korea and Britain — to help secure the Strait of Hormuz for global shipping.

He said the US was talking to “about seven” countries for military support to help reopen the critical conduit for crude oil that Iran has effectively closed. But he wouldn’t say which ones and gave no indication of when such a coalition might be formed.

“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said Monday ahead of a meeting of the 27-nation bloc’s foreign ministers in Brussels.

Kallas said the EU could expand its Operation Aspides naval mission into the Persian Gulf, or it could form a “coalition of the willing” with member nations contributing military capacity on an ad hoc basis.

Operation Aspides was formed to thwart attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by Somali pirates and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have yet to join the current fray.

“If we want to have security in this region, then it would be easiest to actually already use the operation that we have in the region and maybe change a bit,” Kallas said. “There is also talk of a coalition of the willing in this regard, but we also need to see what could be the fastest to provide this opening for the Strait of Hormuz, but of course, as you can see, it’s not easy.”

The war, sparked after Israel and the US struck Iran on February 28, has driven up energy prices worldwide, with Brent crude oil up more than 40 percent. But the conflict has also disrupted the wider global supply chain beyond oil.

Cargo ships are stuck in the Gulf or making a much longer detour around the southern tip of Africa. Planes carrying air cargo out of the Middle East are grounded. And the longer the war drags on, the more likely it is that there will be shortages and price increases on a wide range of goods.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said it will be important for the US and Israel to define “when they consider the military aims of their deployment to have been reached.”

He said before meeting his EU colleagues in Brussels that “we need more clarity here” from the US and Israel.

Neither the US nor Israel has clearly defined their goals for the war. Trump has vacillated on questions regarding a timeline, while declaring Iran defeated. Israeli military officials, meanwhile, said Sunday that despite the mission proceeding ahead of schedule, the army was preparing for at least three more weeks of operations in Iran.

Wadephul said the Iranian government poses a significant danger to the region, the freedom of shipping and the global economy, and “this danger definitely must not continue.” He said he would back sanctions against those responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz, without elaborating.

Once there’s clarity on the US-Israeli aims, Wadephul said it will be time to enter a phase in which “a security architecture for this whole region” is defined. He said that will also entail speaking to Iran.

France has said it is working with countries — President Emmanuel Macron mentioned partners in Europe, India and Asia — on a possible international mission to escort ships through the strait but has stressed it must be when “the circumstances permit,” when fighting has subsided.

Senior French officials, speaking anonymously on ongoing talks, said the Netherlands, Italy, and Greece had shown interest and that Spain might be involved in some way.

Outside the EU, the UK may also be part of it if they have some capabilities available, the officials said.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that Britain was working with allies to come up with a “viable” plan to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, but ruled out a NATO mission.

During a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer told reporters he had discussed the situation with US President Donald Trump.

“We’re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impacts,” said the UK leader.

He added the intention was to make the plan “credible” and ruled out NATO involvement.

“Let me be clear, that won’t be and it’s never been envisioned to be a NATO mission,” Starmer said.

“That’ll have to be an alliance of partners, which is why we’re working with partners, both in Europe, in the Gulf, and with the US,” he added.

His comments came after Trump said NATO faces a “very bad” future if US allies fail to help reopen the key oil transport route.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said.

Starmer also insisted that while Britain was “taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the wider war.”

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said the EU remains uncommitted to any military action.

“The fact is, for the moment, the EU is not directly part of the situation. So we need to decide if we are going to be part or not. That’s an important decision,” Bettel said.