EU rejects Trump request to join Strait of Hormuz mission

European Union – (Web Desk) – The European Union has refused a request from U.S. President Donald Trump to join a naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz. This comes during the ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Earlier, Trump warned NATO members, many of which are EU countries, of serious consequences if they did not support the mission. The goal was to reopen the key oil route, which Iran has closed.

After his warning, EU foreign ministers met in Brussels. They decided not to take part in the U.S. military plan.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc does not want to change the role of its current naval mission in the region. She added that even though energy problems are growing, the EU is not ready to join the operation.

For context, Aspides is a defensive naval mission launched in February 2024 by the EU to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden from Houthi attacks.

Kallas said: “Nobody wants to go actively in this war,” after a meeting of foreign ministers from the 27 EU member states in Brussels.

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The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following U.S.-Israeli joint military strikes on economy has severely impacted the global oil trade and global oil economy, with its prices surging above $100 per barrel.

Iran has warned that oil prices could go up to $200 per barrel and vows to continue fighting a long war with the U.S. and Israel.