Leaders seek a diplomatic solution despite US president’s threat of ‘a very bad future’ for NATO unless it provides warships
European countries have ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz, despite threats from Donald Trump that NATO faces “a very bad future” if members fail to help reopen the vital waterway.
Germany ruled out participation in any military activity, including efforts to reopen the strait. “There was never a joint decision on whether to intervene. That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise. We will not do so,” the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said.
He added: “This Iranian regime must come to an end,” but that “based on all the experience we have gained in previous years and decades, bombing it into submission is, in all likelihood, not the right approach.”
Trust is a lot easier to lose than it is to gain and Europe has lost a lot of trust when it sided with the US when Trump unilaterally exited the last agreement and imposed sanctions.
Further, continued submissive compliance behaviors from Europe towards the US in all manner of things (for example, Tariffs) aren’t exactly helping building in others the trust that in the future Europe will stand fast in such tri-party agreements when America unilaterally tears then down: if Europe won’t even play hardball towards America when an American Administration goes back on bilateral agreements with Europe itself, it will certainly not do so in the interest of a third party in a trilateral agreement involving it and America.
America can’t be trusted because it’s a ultra-nationalist and imperialist country with a growing Fascist side and Europe can’t be trusted because it acts as a spinless coward that won’t even stand-up for itself, much less for others.
If Europe makes the deal I proposed independent of the US and consequently, incurring the wrath of Trump, Iran will see that Europe is growing a spine. Europe could tell Iranian leaders that it is willing to go out on a limb for them.
I don’t think anything short of making the US lose face will work.
So, it depends on the details of the deal and the reaction of Europe to any push-back from America - Europe has to treat the expressed wishes of America as irrelevant and if America actually pushes back (such as with Tariffs, as has become Trump’s default mode of pressure) it cannot bend in any way form or shape.
Personally from all I’ve seen I believe that at least the EU Commission is unable to act thus and invariably appeases and even supports America and its interests.
I already gave details of the detail but will repeat it. Iran will be allowed to continue its nuclear program as long as it’s for peaceful purposes. Iran must agree to be strictly monitored for compliance. If Iran agrees to the proposal, all sanctions would be immediately lifted. Any violation would result in invasion by Europe and any other countries willing to participate.
Europe must ignore Trump. Most of the world would support Europe. That is a loss of face for Trump.