Multiple countries reject Trump's call for military mission in Strait of Hormuz

A couple of countries have expressed their reluctances or outright opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's call for a military mission to ensure safe shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Trump administration has been pressing NATO members and other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of the world's oil was transported before the U.S-Israeli strikes against Iran. Transit through the strategic waterway has been nearly halted due to the threat of Iranians' retaliatory attacks.

Stressing the need for diplomatic solutions and warning against further regional escalation of tensions, European leaders underscored that the current conflict should not evolve into a NATO mission or draw the continent into a broader war.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday ruled out his country's any military involvement in protecting oil tankers in the strait, emphasizing that NATO is a "defense alliance" rather than an "intervention alliance."

Merz said Germany will not participate in military measures to ensure freedom of navigation as long as the conflict continues, adding that no viable concept for such an operation has been presented so far.

His remarks were echoed in Brussels by EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas. After a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, Kallas said the bloc has no appetite for expanding its existing naval mission "Aspides" to the Strait of Hormuz.

"We are working on the diplomatic solutions for the Strait of Hormuz," she said, adding that this is not Europe's war.

"Aspides", meaning shield in Greek, is a defensive naval mission launched by the EU in February 2024, aiming to restore and safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf regions.

Also on Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Britain is working with its allies on a "viable plan" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that restoring freedom of navigation in the key waterway is "not a simple task."

Speaking at 10 Downing Street in London, Starmer said reopening the strait is crucial for ensuring stability in global oil markets and maintaining secure international shipping.

He said Britain is coordinating with its allies to develop a workable approach to restore navigation in the region following the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

Starmer added that reopening the strait will not be a NATO mission. "Let me be clear, that won't be and it's never been envisioned to be a NATO mission," he said.

Meanwhile, in Southern Europe, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said on Monday that Portugal "is not and will not be involved in this conflict."

Rangel said Portugal supports efforts to restore freedom of navigation through diplomatic and political means.

Everything that can be done to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and allow freedom of navigation is positive. There is a great deal that can be done at the political and diplomatic level, and that is where Portugal stands, and where the European Union (EU) will also stand, he said.

Asked about Trump's threats to NATO members that refuse to back Washington, Rangel dismissed them outright. "From my side, that deserves absolutely no reaction," he said.

The foreign minister added that he has been in contact with his counterparts in the Gulf region in search of a solution to prevent further escalation.

That is the main point for everyone, and the second is to return to the negotiating table, he said.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed doubts on Monday, noting that the existing missions like "Aspides" and "Atalanta" are primarily designed for defensive escort and anti-piracy operations, making their extension to the high-risk Strait of Hormuz difficult.

Spain's Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Monday that Spain is not considering any mission in the Strait of Hormuz.

In Northern and Eastern Europe, limited resources and strategic priorities played a major role in the refusals.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said Finland has "hardly any additional resources" and that the strait is not a "top priority."

Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said similarly that Sweden's strategic focus remains on northern areas.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed that Poland has "no plans" to participate, and Bulgaria's Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Nadezhda Neynski said her country lacks the capacity for such a mission.

Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has confirmed that the Netherlands is not currently considering participating.

Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, said on Monday that Australia will not send navy ships to protect oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

In addition, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday that no decision had been made on dispatching ships to the Strait of Hormuz.

Protesters in the Republic of Korea (ROK) took to the streets of Seoul to denounce Trump's call for allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a violation of national sovereignty.

Furthermore, many local non-governmental organizations have publicly expressed their opposition to Trump's call.

Multiple countries reject Trump's call for military mission in Strait of Hormuz

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam on Monday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun, who were in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi to attend the first ministerial meeting of the China-Vietnam "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security.

Lam said that the "3+3" mechanism, a joint initiative of the leaders of the two parties, reflects the high degree of political mutual trust between the two sides and demonstrates that cooperation in key areas has become an important pillar of bilateral relations, which will strongly advance the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future to deeper and more substantive levels.

While congratulating on the successful convening of the first ministerial meeting of the "3+3" mechanism, he said the meeting has sent a clear message of both sides working together to promote development and rejuvenation and address common challenges.

Noting that the current international situation is complex and volatile with increasing uncertainties and unpredictable factors, Lam said Vietnam and China should strengthen solidarity and cooperation to safeguard the legitimate interests of both countries, adding that China is a pillar of stability in a turbulent world.

Vietnam has always regarded its relations with China as a top priority and strategic choice in its foreign policy, continues to firmly adhere to the one-China policy, and supports the four global initiatives proposed by China, Lam said.

He said Vietnam looks forward to working with China to enhance political mutual trust, strengthen strategic alignment, deepen pragmatic cooperation, promote local and people-to-people exchanges, and closely coordinate multilateral efforts to jointly safeguard international and regional stability and development, and jointly advance the cause of world socialism.

Noting that since last year, the top leaders of the two parties have maintained strategic communication and guided China-Vietnam relations to forge ahead resolutely amid the changing world situation, Wang Yi said it is believed that under the leadership of the new CPV Central Committee headed by General Secretary To Lam, the Vietnamese people will continuously open up new eras of national development.

Wang Yi said that during the first ministerial meeting of the China-Vietnam "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security, both sides had an in-depth exchange of views and reached broad consensus, sending out an important signal to the outside world that China and Vietnam, the two major socialist countries, will join hands to safeguard political system security and jointly seek national development and rejuvenation.

The dialogue is a strategic communication platform pioneered by China and Vietnam in the world, marking a new stage in strategic mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides and new progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance, Wang Yi said.

Wang Yi said that China is willing to work with Vietnam to follow the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, continuously deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation, unite and collaborate to address common challenges, and deepen political mutual trust.

China stands ready to join hands with Vietnam to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold justice and fairness, and jointly embark on a new journey towards modernization, Wang Yi said.

Wang Xiaohong and Dong Jun briefed Lam on bilateral cooperation between the two sides' public security and defense departments, respectively.

During the visit, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with the Chinese delegation. Wang Yi also held a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Le Hoai Trung.

Vietnam's Party chief meets with senior Chinese officials to advance ties