The Secretary General of NATO, Dutchman Mark Rutte, has caused tensions by supporting the American strategy in Iran, especially during his appearance on “Face the Nation” on Sunday, March 22, on the New York television channel CBS. According to the British newspaper Financial Times, his suggestion that European allies would eventually “unite” to respond to Donald Trump’s call on March 15 to deploy naval assets to help secure the Strait of Hormuz did not sit well in several capitals.
In practice, Europeans did the opposite. The day after the American president’s call, they collectively refused to further engage in the conflict. “This is not our war,” stated European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas, a sentiment echoed by several EU member states.
At the same time, a common statement during the European summit on March 19 and 20 outlined a more nuanced position. In a statement supported by about thirty countries, signatory states, including several EU members, expressed their readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, this opening remains conditional: no military intervention is currently being considered. In other words, securing Hormuz may be a future possibility, but not now.
In backstage conversations, the discomfort is evident. “This puts us in a very delicate and uncomfortable situation,” a European diplomat confided to the influential London newspaper. “We want to show our goodwill, but we are by no means able to get involved in the conflict.”
The issue is not new, as Mark Rutte has a history of close relations with Donald Trump. During a NATO summit in June 2025, he even referred to Trump as “Papa,” causing annoyance in several diplomatic circles. In the CBS program, as reported by American media outlet Politico, he once again deemed Trump “crucial” for international security, while justifying his strikes against Iran: “He does this so that the whole world is safe.”
“For him, there are no other options than to wait for help from the American ‘parent’,” chuckled the Spanish newspaper El Periódico de Catalunya.
This stance contrasts with a Europe primarily concerned about the economic consequences of the conflict. The war has driven up energy prices, highlighting the continent’s dependence. Some capitals, including Paris, are considering participation in naval patrols in the Strait of Hormuz, but only after the conflict, to secure a route through which more than a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports pass.
