Trump & Allies: No US Role in Ukraine War?

Major allies have largely rejected a call from U.S. President Donald Trump for assistance after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipping, following attacks involving the U.S. and Israel. The closure has already driven global crude prices up nearly 50 percent, exceeding $100 a barrel.

Strait of Hormuz Closure and Rising Oil Prices

The disruption in oil shipping is expected to significantly impact fuel prices worldwide. Experts predict South Africans could see an increase of R4 per litre of petrol starting next month.

Trump has been urging allies to deploy ships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a blockade he suggested was foreseeable given the U.S. attacks that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini on February 28. He specifically named China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK in a post on Truth Social, and warned of negative consequences for NATO if assistance isn’t provided.

Allied Responses

Germany has firmly declined to participate. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated, “It is not our war. We did not start it.” He questioned the effectiveness of a limited European response, asking, “What does Donald Trump expect a handful or two of European frigates to accomplish in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful American Navy cannot achieve there alone?”

The United Kingdom is “looking through the options,” according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, considering the deployment of ships and mine-hunting drones to the Middle East. However, Starmer emphasized that the UK will not be “drawn into the wider war” and stated that a decision has not yet been made, pending discussions with the U.S., Gulf partners, and European allies.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, acknowledged the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open but noted that it falls outside of NATO’s area of action.