Several European allies are refusing, for now, to join the Trump administration’s proposed multinational naval patrol mission in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that a stable ceasefire with Iran must be in place before committing forces, according to a report by Politico.

The report says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been working to recruit Britain and France to help lead the maritime coalition, but has encountered skepticism from European governments. Five officials familiar with the discussions told Politico that there has been little meaningful progress.

According to the report, the United States and the United Kingdom are planning an international conference in London to define the roles of participating nations, including protecting commercial shipping and detecting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

European officials reportedly remain reluctant to join the effort, citing frustration with the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict with Iran and claiming they were not consulted in advance on key decisions.

British officials stressed that they do not intend to participate in offensive military operations against Iran, but reaffirmed their support for protecting freedom of navigation and securing vital maritime trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

The report comes as commercial shipping in the region continues to decline. According to maritime intelligence firm Windward Intelligence, vessel traffic through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has dropped significantly in recent weeks due to heightened security concerns and disruptions to global shipping.

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