The United States' NATO Allies said Monday that they would not be 'involved' in President Donald Trump’s plan to blockade Strait of Hormuz. This will further escalate tensions within the fragile alliance. Trump claimed that the U.S. After weekend talks failed, the U.S. military will work with other countries to block all maritime traffic on the waterway. The U.S. Military later clarified that the blockade would only be applicable to ships heading to or leaving Iranian ports.

"The Blockade is about to begin." Trump stated in a Sunday Truth Social post that other countries will be involved in this Blockade.

NATO allies, including Britain and France, said that they would not get involved in the conflict by taking part in the blockade. Instead, they said it was important to open up the waterway, through which Iran has closed the flow of oil since the conflict started on February 28. The refusal of the NATO allies to take part is another source of friction between Trump and his allies. Trump has threatened to withdraw from the military alliance, as well as considering pulling some U.S. soldiers from Europe.

CONSIDERABLE SUBSTANCE PRESSURE

BBC reported that British Prime Minister Keir starmer said: "We don't support the blockade."

"My decision was very clear that we would not be drawn into a war, despite the considerable pressure," he said. Diplomats said last week that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had told European governments Trump wanted concrete commitments to be made in the near term to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Rutte stated on April 9 that NATO could play a part in the Strait of Hormuz if all 32 members agreed on a mission.

Many European countries said they were willing to 'help in the Strait, but only if there was a lasting end to hostilities.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said on X that France would organise a meeting with Britain and other nations to create a multi-national mission to restore navigation through the strait.

Macron stated that "this strictly defensive mission, separate from belligerents will be deployed as soon as the situation permits".

According to a senior European official, Britain is looking at ways to lower insurance premiums on ships that pass through the Strait after the fighting stops.

Hakan Fidan, Turkish Foreign Minister, said that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened diplomatically. He added that creating an international force for it to be overseen would be difficult, as he had called on NATO to reset their ties with Trump during a summit held in Ankara, in July. Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and John Irish; writing by Charlie Devereux, Editing by Keith Weir

(source: Reuters)