Trump continues to urge allies to open the Strait of Hormuz, but Starmer and Berlin are holding back.

The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is currently straining the relationship between the United States and many NATO countries. Trump announced that the USA will escort tankers through the strait if necessary, ordering financial and insurance guarantees for energy trade via the United States Development Finance Corporation.

"The president is speaking with our allies in Europe and also with many of our partners in the Gulf and the Arab world to encourage them to do more to open the Strait of Hormuz. In particular, our NATO allies need to do more." This was stated by the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, in an interview with Fox News. "President Trump has been very candid with our NATO friends for a long time – she added – now he is urging them to do the right thing."

The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has, however, ruled out any Atlantic framework for the operation. "Let me be clear, this will not be and has never been envisioned as a NATO mission," he stated in response to reporters, after Donald Trump described a potential refusal by allies to send naval units to Hormuz as "very negative for NATO."

Skepticism also from Berlin. "It doesn't seem to me that NATO has made a decision nor that it can take responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz. If that were the case, NATO bodies would be dealing with it," said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul upon arrival at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The reference is to Trump's words, who warned of a "very negative future" for the Alliance if it does not contribute to operations related to the conflict with Iran.

Trump's response to the NATO countries that do not intend to adhere to his appeal was swift.

"Numerous countries have told me that they are coming. Some are very enthusiastic, others less so. Some are countries we have helped for many years. We have protected them from terrible external threats, yet they have not shown such enthusiasm. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me."

"After 40 years of protecting you, you don't want to be involved in something so insignificant, where very few shots will be fired because (the Iranians, ed.) have no more available? But they responded: "We prefer not to be involved", Trump added, referring to the countries that would not be willing to send warships into the strait.