U.K. Leads Cautious Responses From Europe as Trump Threatens ‘Very Bad Future’ for NATO If Allies Don’t Help in Iran

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Mar 16, 2026 2:49 PM CUT

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump meet in Egpyt on Oct. 13, 2025.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump meet in Egpyt on Oct. 13, 2025.Evan Vucci—Getty Images

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Mar 16, 2026 2:49 PM CUT

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. is working with its allies to “bring together a viable plan” to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but warned the nation will “not be drawn into the wider war” as U.S. President Donald Trump implores NATO allies to take action.

Starmer told reporters Monday morning that he shared a “good discussion” with Trump the day before over restoring the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which around a fifth of global oil production flows. 

While he agreed that the Strait must be reopened to “ensure stability in the markets,” Starmer argued it “is not a simple task” and emphasized the value in the U.K. working alongside its allies to determine the best path forward instead of rushing in.

Several oil tankers were targeted in the Strait last week, bringing the vital global trade crossing for oil and liquified natural gas to a virtual standstill. Iran has threatened to attack any ships it considers associated with the U.S., and there are also concerns about potential sea mines.

The severe disruption to the passage has caused oil prices to surge to over $100 per barrel. 

Addressing concerns about rising costs at home, Starmer announced that the government will be releasing £53 million ($70m) to support “vulnerable heating oil customers” in an effort to assist “households that are most exposed.”

On the international front, Starmer faced questions over reports that the U.K.-U.S. relationship has become increasingly strained due to differences in approach to the Iran war.

“We are strong allies. Have been for decades,” Starmer told reporters. “But it is for me to act in what I consider to be the best interest of Britain. If you're Prime Minister, you don't get to come back a week later and say—’oops I made a mistake about that war, can I back out of it now?’"

Starmer’s remarks came hours after Trump warned NATO allies of a “very bad” future, should they not help secure the Strait in light of Iran’s new Supreme Leader vowing to keep it closed as a geopolitical bargaining chip amid the widening war.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump told the Financial Times Sunday. “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”

Trump’s stern warning followed his appeal to the U.K., China, France, Japan, and South Korea to join efforts and open up the Strait.

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Later, during a talk with reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday evening, Trump vowed to “remember” the countries that don’t help during this time.

“Whether we get support or not, I can say this, and I said it to them: we will remember,” he said.

The U.S. President also claimed that Starmer had offered to deploy aircraft carriers to the region—a gesture he insisted should have been extended much earlier. 

Starmer, during his Monday morning address, did not confirm if aircraft carriers would be deployed, but did say the U.K. already had “autonomous mine hunting systems” in the region. 

TIME has reached out to the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence for comment.

Trump has repeatedly hit out at the U.K. for initially refusing to allow the U.S. to launch missiles from British bases at the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28. When Starmer reversed course on March 1, opening up certain British bases to the U.S.—a move he framed as the “best way to eliminate the urgent threat and prevent the situation spiralling further"—Trump said it was too little, too late.

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The joint U.K.-U.S. airbase Diego Garcia, situated on the Chagos Islands and leased by the U.K., was at the centre of the dispute, as Trump said U.S. military planes were forced to fly “many extra hours” in the crucial days where Starmer refused to allow access. “He ruins relationships… This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with,” Trump later remarked.

European countries respond to Trump's call for action with caution and resistance

As Starmer continues to consider the U.K.’s next steps on the international front, E.U. Foreign Ministers met in Brussels on Monday to discuss "how to better protect shipping in the region." They debated a potential expansion of the Aspides mission—an E.U. naval operation launched in 2024 in the Red Sea as a response to Houthi attacks on international shipping—but ultimately decided against it.

"There was no appetite in changing the mandate of operation Aspides, for now," Kaja Kallas, the E.U. high representative for foreign affairs, said after the high-stakes meeting. "While the Strait of Hormuz is at the centre stage, the Red Sea also remains critical. The risk that Houthis get involved is real, so we must remain vigilant."

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Kallas also reiterated that "Europe has no interest in an open-ended war" and again condemned the actions of the Iranian regime during the deadly protests earlier in the year. "In January, the E.U. designated the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, and today, we imposed additional sanctions on those responsible for the violence," she said.

The outcome of the meeting came as little surprise, as several countries had already refused to participate in any military operations in the Strait.

Greece’s government ​spokesman Pavlos Marinakis reportedly said ⁠Monday that his country will refrain from involvement and would only ​participate in the pre-existing E.U. Aspides mission. 

Spain, who has previously refused to aid the Iran war by not allowing the U.S. access to its bases, issued a similar response.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said the country will “never accept any stopgap measures, ​because the objective must be for the war to end, and ‌for ⁠it to end now.”

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Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares echoed that sentiment, adding: “We mustn't do anything that ​would add even more tension or cause ​the ⁠situation to escalate further.” He also called for Europe to "wake up" and use its voice for "reason, diplomacy, and negotiation in the face of war."

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told reporters in Brussels he does not think the naval missions in the Red Sea should be expanded to include the Strait of Hormuz, "especially since they are anti-piracy and defensive missions.”

German Foreign Minister Johann ​Wadephul has also said he is skeptical about the prospect of widening the pre-existing naval missions approved by NATO.

Similarly, Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin confirmed Monday afternoon that Ireland will not be getting involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

Elsewhere, Australian Transport Minister Catherine King confirmed that the government did not have plans to send ships to the Gulf chokepoint.

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“We know how incredibly important that is, but that's not something we've been asked or we're contributing to,” she said Monday, adding that she was unaware of any formal request from the U.S.

New Zealand also said it had not received a request for assistance from Washington. “If we were to receive a request, then of course our cabinet would consider it,” said acting Prime Minister David Seymour.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said no decisions had been made about dispatching ​escort ships, as officials continue "to examine what ​Japan can do independently and what can be done ⁠within the legal framework."