US President Donald Trump has demanded that European allies help secure the passage of oil and gas tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global energy supplies. This issue dominated discussions at today's meeting of European Union foreign affairs ministers in Brussels. However, several member states indicated reluctance to involve NATO in guarding the strait, which was closed by Iran in response to the US-Israeli bombing campaign. EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas stated it is in the bloc's "interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open," but concluded that there is "no appetite" among members to expand the EU's maritime mission to the area "for now," citing risks of becoming targets for Iran.
Soaring energy prices across the continent and ensuing crises have further strained the already fragile relationship between Europe and Washington. EU ministers also assessed how the conflict could strengthen Russia's hand, as Moscow could use increased revenues from fossil fuel exports to fund its war in Ukraine. Charles Hecker, Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), noted that "the only winner really out of the war on Iran right now is Russia," highlighting the geopolitical ramifications of the energy market turmoil.
In an interview with The Financial Times, Trump allegedly claimed that "it's only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there," and threatened that a lack of response "will be very bad for the future of NATO." Hecker suggested this is an attempt by Trump to pressure Europeans into more active engagement in the US and Israel's war against Iran. However, key European powers like France and the UK are unlikely to join military efforts in the near future, partly due to uncertainties over US and Israeli objectives and strategy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reported that gas prices have risen by 50% and oil prices by 27% since the conflict began, with European taxpayers paying an extra €3 billion for fossil fuel imports in just the first 10 days. In response, European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, backed a G7 decision to release millions of barrels of oil from emergency reserves to curb prices. Von der Leyen warned of the vulnerabilities created by Europe's dependence on volatile energy imports, exacerbated by the Middle East crisis.
Russia has positioned itself to capitalize on the energy price spike, with oil reaching its highest level since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov purportedly stated that "Russia was and continues to be a reliable supplier of both oil and gas," while European officials expressed concerns that higher energy prices could boost Russian income and prolong or intensify the war in Ukraine. Additionally, there are fears that key defense equipment, such as Patriot missiles often sourced from the US for Ukraine, may be diverted to the Gulf, impacting Ukraine's defense capabilities. Kallas noted a "direct impact" on Ukraine as resources shift to the Middle East.
Source: www.dw.com