Allies cautious after Trump calls for help securing Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has called on allies and other countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route, as Iranian forces continue attacks on US and its allies' ships on the waterway amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran. However, responses from key partners in Europe and Asia suggest many governments remain cautious about committing to such a mission.

Trump said his administration has already contacted seven countries, but declined to identify them. In an ‌earlier social media post, he said that ‌he hoped France, Japan, South Korea, ‌Britain and others would participate.

In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump said that NATO members should send warships to help open up the Strait of Hormuz or face a "very bad" future. "If there's no response or if it's a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO," he told the British newspaper.

Despite Washington's appeal, many governments have been reluctant to commit to a military mission while the conflict continues.

Australia

Australia will not send naval ships to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a government minister said on Monday.

"We won't be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is, but that's not something that we've been asked or ​that we're contributing to," ​Catherine King, a member of Prime Minister Anthony ‌Albanese's cabinet, said in an interview with state broadcaster ABC.

South Korea

"We will ‌communicate closely with the US regarding this matter and make a decision after careful review," South Korea's presidential office said on Sunday.

UK

Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the need to reopen the strait to end disruption to global shipping with Trump, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Sunday.

Starmer also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and they have agreed to continue talks on the Middle East conflict at a meeting on Monday, the spokeswoman added.

British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said earlier on Sunday that ending the ongoing conflict is the "best and most conclusive way" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Germany

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was "very skeptical" that a European Union naval mission could significantly improve security in the strait.

In an interview with ARD, Wadephul said maritime security could only be guaranteed if the underlying military conflict was resolved. He added that while Europe has historically supported efforts to secure maritime routes, he sees "neither an immediate necessity, nor, above all, that Germany should participate."

"Our demand to the US and Israel is to keep us informed and tell us which concrete objectives are still being pursued, and then discuss with us how this war can be brought to an end," he said.

France

French President Emmanuel Macron said on March 9 that France and its allies were preparing a "defensive" mission to help reopen the strait, but only after what he described as the "hottest phase" of the conflict had ended.

France's Foreign Ministry also said on social media that a French aircraft carrier group would remain deployed in the eastern Mediterranean rather than moving into the Gulf.

Europe's cautious role

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade, making any disruption a major concern for global markets.

According to the Lloyd's Market Association, around 1,000 ships carrying cargo worth about $25 billion have been stranded in the Gulf and nearby waters due to security concerns.

Analysts warn the economic impact could be severe. Citigroup said a complete closure lasting three months could push European wholesale natural gas prices to $100 per megawatt-hour – nearly three times pre-crisis levels. Goldman Sachs estimates that even a one-month disruption could drive European gas prices up by 130 percent.

Europe has already faced high energy costs after reducing reliance on Russian energy supplies following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Stefan Wolff, professor of international security at the University of Birmingham, told CGTN that most European countries are wary of being drawn into a broader regional conflict.

"What we have also seen is a clear reluctance by most European governments to be drawn into a conflict that might further escalate, and certainly that will leave the Middle East in a much more volatile situation even once it concludes," he said.

According to Wolff, Europe's immediate priority should be to avoid direct involvement in the fighting while preparing for the political and diplomatic challenges that will follow the war.

"At the moment, the best thing that European governments can do is exercise caution so that they do not get drawn into the war – that they do not become co-belligerents," he said.