European Union foreign ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss soaring oil prices and the closure of critical waterways amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. European leaders rejected demands by United States President Donald Trump to help form a naval coalition to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating uncertainty in global energy markets as the key chokepoint remains effectively shut due to the conflict.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated before the meeting that Berlin has no intention of joining military operations in this conflict. He told reporters: “We expect from the US and Israel to inform us, to include us into what they’re doing there and to tell us if these goals are achieved.” Wadephul added that NATO had not made any decision on assuming responsibilities in the strait after Trump’s call for a coalition to deploy warships to secure the waterway, through which about one-fifth of global oil shipments transit.

Several European countries have pushed back against Trump’s appeal. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said on Monday that Greece would not engage in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated Italy was not involved in naval missions that could be extended to the area. However, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Europe should keep an open mind on helping to ensure freedom of navigation, even if the continent did not support the US-Israeli decision to go to war.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before the Brussels meeting that bloc leaders would focus on how the EU could contribute to reopening the waterway. She said: “We first need to discuss what the member states are willing to do in the Strait of Hormuz. Of course, the needs to open the Strait of Hormuz are there right now.” Kallas noted that the strait’s closure, which has sent oil prices above $100 a barrel, is benefiting Russia’s war on Ukraine, largely funded by Moscow’s energy revenues.

Reporting from Brussels, Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen said: “European leaders are increasingly feeling the pressure from Trump to help him reopen the Strait of Hormuz. There is very little appetite for joining the war, especially because they feel left out of the loop.” France has suggested expanding the EU’s Aspides naval mission, but German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius expressed skepticism, stating: “This is not our war. We have not started it,” and questioning what a few European frigates could achieve that the powerful US Navy cannot.

Source: www.aljazeera.com