"Consequences of the attacks": US pushes for security in Hormuz - Europe is in no hurry
"A new and dangerous mission": Politico reported that the US is urging Europe to help patrol the strait - but is encountering suspicion. Despite London's support for holding a conference on "division of roles," American and British officials warned - there is no progress. In Europe, they claim to be frustrated by the surprise of the start of the war in Iran: "The US did not behave as a partner."
European allies are refusing to support American pressure to establish a joint patrol in the Strait of Hormuz as long as they do not see a stable ceasefire in the war with Iran. This was reported this morning (Wednesday) in Politico, in what was described as one of the consequences of Washington's repeated attacks on its closest friends. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is urging the UK and France to help lead the maritime coalition, but even with the assistance of his British counterpart Wes Streeting, he is encountering suspicion across Europe. This is according to four British officials and one American official who spoke with the American site.
Hegseth and President Donald Trump have spent months rebuking European countries for their refusal to be involved in the war in Iran. But this effort is the most concentrated attempt to request assistance from allies, and it comes after months of fighting led to a spike in gas prices, widespread public criticism, and a prolonged closure of the strait. On Saturday, a British security official told the Financial Times that there is growing concern in London about the intensification of the fighting — and the consequences: "People do not understand how serious the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is, and it is about to ignite."
In the US and UK, they aim to convene an international conference in London that will define roles for the countries and determine which warships will search for sea mines or protect civilian shipping in the strait, which Iran has effectively paralyzed. But those same five sources who spoke to Politico warned — the effort has not progressed far, and no movement is expected soon. The US has halted its strikes in Iran since Friday, after 12 days of renewed bombing, although officials did not specify what led to the pause.
The US and Saudi Arabia attacked jointly in Iraq, Oman suggested: "Voluntary payment in Hormuz." The quiet in the Gulf and progress in the Hormuz talks: "Diplomacy needs more time." Hegseth raised the idea of the patrol during a conversation with Streeting on Friday, according to one of the British sources. The source said the conversation focused on the gathering of allies by the UK and US to support American defense, not on supporting offensive strikes in Iran. The British source added that the two spoke on Monday with French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin and discussed how to "work together to ensure shipping throughout the region."
Despite the delay, two of the British sources noted, Streeting expects to speak with his counterparts from across Europe to coordinate a future multinational mission in the strait. "The Secretary of Defense is having constructive discussions with allies on diplomatic and military efforts to strengthen maritime security, and these will continue in the coming days," one of them said. The Pentagon and the British Ministry of Defense refused to comment on the report. The White House and the French Embassy in the US did not respond to Politico's request for comment.
As mentioned, relations between the UK and the US have been tense in recent months, after former Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to allow the US military to use British military bases for strikes in Iran. But now it seems attempts are being made to repair relations: last Monday, incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham held his first conversation with US President Donald Trump. Regarding the Hormuz issue, Burnham's office stated that the PM "emphasized the UK's commitment to ensuring the movement of shipping in the strait to support global supply chains and lower costs for businesses and families across the country."
Two European officials told Politico that US allies on the continent were frustrated by the Trump administration's refusal to warn in advance before the start of the Israeli-American war in Iran in February. Therefore, they are afraid to "jump into a new and dangerous mission" after, from their perspective, the White House did not treat them as partners. "There was no consultation with Congress, no consultation with allies, just boom," said Democratic Senator Chris Coons in an interview. According to him, "Trump is deeply frustrated that Congress does not support this, the American public does not support this, and our key allies do not support this. You cannot be surprised when you throw a party and don't invite anyone."
Earlier this week, Streeting warned that the UK "has not joined and will not join offensive US military action in Iran. This is an area where we have not agreed with the US. But when it comes to securing maritime freedom and free commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz — there we are fully aligned." However, the latest ceasefire, as written in Politico, is "loose at best." Trump told reporters this week that both sides are "talking right now" and that there is a "good chance" that a new round of diplomacy with Iran could yield a more permanent ceasefire or a diplomatic breakthrough. However, it does not appear that the Iranian leadership agrees. "Today, what exists cannot be described as a ceasefire," said Tehran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.
Commercial shipping in the region is still frozen, with dozens of ships loaded with oil and other cargo trapped in the Gulf. And as it seems, the delays have only intensified in recent weeks. According to Windward Intelligence, a private security company that monitors ship traffic in the region, no oil tanker crossed the strait on July 27. Commercial ship crossings in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is located to the south and connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, have fallen by 22% since the Houthis announced a blockade on July 20. Tanker passages have fallen by 39%, and crossings related to Saudi Arabia have fallen by 46%, according to the company.
