Germany and the United Kingdom have refused to join the U.S. operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, The Telegraph reports.
Washington had been attempting to assemble a coalition of allies to protect merchant vessels and oil tankers passing through one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors. But Europe’s largest states are, for now, unwilling to take part directly in a military operation.
In Berlin, officials made it clear that Germany will not be drawn into combat operations and “is not a party to the war.”
London is also in no hurry to deploy warships to escort civilian vessels. British officials are in talks with the United States about ways to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but emphasize the need for de-escalation rather than an expansion of military operations.
The British government is considering only limited forms of participation—such as deploying maritime drones to detect and neutralize mines.