At a press conference, German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius stated that NATO is an alliance for defending its members’ territory and lacks the mandate to intervene outside its borders in response to a call from President Donald Trump. The UK and Germany have rejected utilizing NATO for restoring maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Allies like Japan, Australia, and the UK are working on a collective plan to address the issue without NATO involvement. Germany emphasized that the conflict between Israel, the US, and Iran is not NATO’s concern. US allies in Europe are cautious about contributing to any escalation in the region.
The EU is discussing the possible deployment of the Aspides mission in the Strait of Hormuz to protect maritime traffic. France suggested an international mission solely for defensive purposes. Various European ministers are hesitant about using the Aspides mission and are concerned about escalating tensions. The UK has supported the US using British military bases for defensive operations against Iran. The UK has also deployed air assets to assist allies in the region and deployed a destroyer to protect bases in Cyprus.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a £53 million plan to support British households affected by rising oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.
