Leaders of the European Union have rejected calls to send military forces to the Strait of Hormuz despite growing tensions during the war involving Iran. The request came after Donald Trump, the president of the United States, urged allies to help secure the key global shipping route.
Several European countries, including Germany, Italy, and Spain, said they would not participate in military operations in the strait, stressing that the conflict with Iran is not their war and that diplomacy should be the priority.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc currently has “no appetite” to expand its naval mission in the Middle East to include the Strait of Hormuz, though discussions about protecting shipping routes are ongoing.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, with about one-fifth of global oil shipments normally passing through it. The ongoing conflict has disrupted traffic through the waterway and pushed global energy prices higher