The United States’ effort to assemble an international naval coalition to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has encountered significant resistance from potential partners, turning the diplomatic mission into what one involved diplomat described as “a mess.” According to a report by Axios, the administration of former President Donald Trump has been actively lobbying allied nations for naval or other support to secure the critical waterway, following disruptions caused by the recent US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil chokepoint, saw its operations severely disrupted by the conflict, causing Brent crude oil prices to briefly exceed $100 per barrel. In response, the US reached out to a broad list of countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, several Gulf states, and Jordan.
Responses, however, have ranged from strong skepticism to outright refusal. Germany, Italy, and Japan have reportedly ruled out deploying naval ships. France has remained non-committal, while the European Union collectively showed “no appetite” for joining a US-led coalition against Iran, as stated by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius plainly noted, “this is not our war, we have not started it.”
The UK appeared the most receptive, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as “forward-leaning” and London drafting a proposal for a multinational task force. Yet, this roadmap has not been widely shared, contributing to confusion among invited nations. One European diplomat encapsulated the sentiment, calling the negotiations disorganized and leaving many participants unclear on the plan.
In the face of this reluctance, Trump warned that NATO could face a “very bad future” if European members refuse to participate. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that Trump had received “very sobering briefings” indicating Iran’s leadership remained firmly in control and could consolidate power rather than collapse, a development sources said was not only predictable but had been explicitly warned to him in advance.
The failure to quickly build a coalition underscores the challenges the US faces in mobilizing broad international support for its Iran strategy, even as the conflict continues with no clear resolution in sight. The ongoing instability directly threatens global energy security through the Strait of Hormuz, a channel through which approximately a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
