As of April 2026, major Western European powers have shown intense reluctance to join U.S.-led military operations against Iran, characterizing the conflict as a "war of choice" rather than a necessity. France, Germany, Spain, and Italy have refused to provide airbase or airspace access for US attacks on Iran, limiting their support to non-offensive actions.
Reasons for European Reluctance:
Avoidance of Long-Term Entanglement: European leaders are wary of being drawn into a protracted conflict in the Middle East that could drain resources and involve them in a "stay forever" scenario.
Economic and Energy Security Risks: European economies are highly vulnerable to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has threatened to close. A wider war risks spiking energy prices and causing economic catastrophe.
Strategic Divergence: European officials contend they were not consulted by the U.S. before the war began, causing significant friction in NATO’s cohesion.
Fear of Refugee Crisis: European governments are concerned that a full-scale war could trigger massive migration waves into Europe.
Impact on NATO and Defense:
Internal Rifts: The refusal to support operations has strained the NATO alliance, with U.S. President Donald Trump accusing European allies of being unhelpful and threatening to reduce U.S. involvement in European defense.
Missile Threat to Europe: Despite their reluctance to intervene, reports indicate Iran's long-range missiles pose a direct, escalating threat to Europe, with reports of missiles having a 4,000-kilometer range and targeting areas in proximity to European interests.
Limitations in Capability: While some European nations, such as the UK, have sent air defense systems to the Gulf, European air defenses are described as "porous" and quantitatively insufficient to protect their own territory, let alone conduct offensive operations.
Proportionate Response Focus: Instead of direct intervention, France, Germany, and the UK have stated they would focus on "proportionate defensive actions" to protect their personnel and assets in the region.
While some European leaders are open to helping secure the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities end, they have resisted participating in direct offensive strikes on Iranian soil.
American press is repeating some of this reasoning:
“Could the Iran war do what even Vladimir Putin couldn't and blow up the North Atlantic Treaty alliance? That's no longer an idle question as most of Europe refuses to help the U.S., and President Trump responds by threatening to leave NATO. This would be the fastest alliance breakup in modern history.
The immediate fault here lies with Europe. Spain and Italy are blocking U.S. military flights for Iran from their bases, and Mr. Trump says the Macron government has blocked flights over France. Add its reluctance to help clear the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe is playing into every MAGA stereotype about a one-sided Western alliance.
Europe's frustration with Mr. Trump is understandable given his failure to consult about the war in advance and his taunts about occupying Greenland. Mr. Trump's refusal to do more to help Ukraine is another gripe.
Yet as we warned when the war started, Europe might come to regret not helping in the Persian Gulf when Mr. Trump asked. The U.S. President wouldn't ask if he didn't need the help, and this was a chance to show the alliance is a two-way street.
Europe's economy is vulnerable to Iran's ability to hold oil flows hostage, as prices spike and shortages loom. The Continent should want to reopen the Gulf quickly and avoid another surge of refugees.
Europe's capitals are in range of Iran's ballistic missiles, and decades of underinvestment also means Europe can't defend itself without U.S. help.
London's struggle to deploy a Navy destroyer to the Mediterranean to defend a British base on Cyprus is a national embarrassment and an apt symbol of Europe's choice to favor social welfare over self-defense. Wellington, Nelson and Churchill are weeping.
A U.S. withdrawal from NATO would nonetheless serve only Russia, Iran and China. Blowing up NATO has been the main goal of Russian strategy since the alliance formed in 1949. Mr. Putin would be emboldened.
The larger reality is that Russia and Iran are working together as an axis against the West. The two share weapons, especially drones and missiles, and Russia is providing intelligence to Iran about American targets. Mr. Trump is especially obtuse on this point, refusing even to acknowledge this Russian harm to U.S. troops, much less condemn it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ducks the question whenever he's asked about it.
This axis of adversaries that includes China wants to weaken the Western alliance and the free world. It wants the U.S. and Israel to fail to defeat Iran.” [1]
1. Bomb Iran but Blow Up NATO? Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 02 Apr 2026: A14.
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