Germany says Iran war 'not a matter for NATO', as Trump demands Strait of Hormuz help
By: ABC News AU
Germany is taking control of NATO away from the United States. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has become the authority on European security, including NATO security. President Trump's role has been greatly diminished.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
March 16, 2026 -- The Iran conflict started by US and Israeli strikes is "not a matter for NATO", German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says.
It comes as Donald Trump demands US allies "get involved quickly" in unblocking the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel, while warning members of NATO the alliance faces a "very bad" future if they do not do their bit.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says Britain "will not be drawn into the wider war" but is "looking through the options" to help the shipping channel reopen.
The war in the Middle East started by US-Israeli strikes on Iran is "not a matter for NATO", German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said, as Donald Trump repeats his demand that European allies help unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
The US president has called for nations including South Korea, France, China and Britain to help ensure safe passage for oil tankers in the shipping lane, which is effectively closed due to the threat of Iranian fire.
He has also upped the pressure on NATO allies, telling the Financial Times newspaper that the alliance faced a "very bad" future if its members did not do their bit to reopen the strait.
Now, Mr Merz is among those to hit back, saying: "It has been clear at all times that this war is not a matter for NATO."
He added that the US and Israel "did not consult us prior to this war".
"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," he said.
Mr Merz ruled out Germany sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
"For as long as the war continues, we will not be involved in ensuring free passage in the Strait of Hormuz by military means," he said.
His spokesman Stefan Kornelius earlier also said the war had "nothing to do with NATO".
"NATO is an alliance for the defence of territory" and "the mandate to deploy NATO is lacking", Mr Kornelius told a regular press briefing.
Speaking in Washington on Monday, Mr Trump hit out at allies who "don't want to get involved" in guiding ships through the channel, telling reporters: "We strongly encourage the other nations to get involved with us and get involved quickly and with great enthusiasm."
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has also appeared at odds with the US president in recent weeks, said he was "looking through the options" to unblock the shipping route, but added during a press conference in Downing Street on Monday that Britain "will not be drawn into the wider war".
"Ultimately, we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the [oil] market. That is not a simple task," Mr Starmer told reporters.
"So we're working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impact."
Europe fearing refugee crisis
Foreign ministers in Estonia and Poland also publicly flagged a desire for more information from the US over its war aims, which have remained somewhat ill-defined since the US and Israel began strikes on Iran in late February.
France said it was working with countries — President Emmanuel Macron mentioned partners in Europe, India and Asia — on a possible international mission to escort ships through the strait but stressed fighting must subside first.
French senior officials, speaking anonymously on ongoing talks, said the Netherlands, Italy, and Greece had shown interest and that Spain might be involved in some way.
The EU is anxious that a potential refugee crisis in Iran will develop if the war continues.
"Although for now, the conflict has not translated into immediate migratory flows toward the EU, what the future holds remains unclear and necessitates the full mobilisation of every migration diplomacy tool we have at our disposal," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on Sunday.
In a sign the inflationary impact of the conflict was growing, on Monday Ms von der Leyen said the Iran war threatened to have a "significant impact" on the European economy.
She also signalled that the bloc could implement measures to bring down the cost of energy.
Israel in 'limited' ground operation against Hezbollah
The Israeli military said on Monday it had begun what it described as "limited ground operations" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with Defence Minister Israel Katz warning that those displaced would not return home until northern Israel was secure.
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when the Tehran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
Israel has been conducting strikes across Lebanon, including in its capital Beirut. (Reuters: Khalil Ashawi)
Israel responded with air raids on its northern neighbour and troop incursions into border areas.
"In recent days, IDF troops from the 91st division have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, aimed at enhancing the forward defence area," the military said in a statement.
"This activity is part of broader defensive efforts to establish and strengthen a forward defensive posture, which includes the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and the elimination of terrorists operating in the area, in order to remove threats and create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel," it said.
"Prior to the troops' entry into the area, the IDF conducted strikes using both artillery and the Israeli Air Force."
Dubai airport reopens after strike
Missiles and drone attacks struck across the UAE, with a drone-related incident sparking a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport that disrupted travel, while a missile killed a civilian in Abu Dhabi.
In the eastern emirate of Fujairah, a drone attack on oil infrastructure sparked a fire, days after an AFP journalist saw smoke rising from a major Emirati energy installation in the emirate.
A large fire could be seen in the surrounds of Dubai airport after the attack. (AP Photo)
The attacks came a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview that rockets had been launched from the UAE to attack Kharg Island. UAE officials have denied the claim.
A Palestinian civilian was killed on the outskirts of the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi when a missile hit their car, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a statement.
The UAE has reported seven deaths since the war began, including five civilians and two military personnel, who died in a helicopter crash blamed on a technical malfunction.
Earlier on Monday, Dubai Airports said flights were gradually resuming at what is usually the world's busiest airport for international flights, following the nearby fuel tank fire sparked by a "drone-related incident".
Authorities said they had contained the fire and reported no injuries.
Dubai airport has been targeted by several attacks since Iran began its Gulf campaign, as have many airports in the Gulf.
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President Trump is ushering in an era of American irrelevance. Trump is trying to turn back the clock to when America was great. The rest of the world is moving forward and leaving the United States behind.
President Trump's imperial ambitions are being thwarted. Trump is quickly becoming the potentate of failed states. If Trump cannot be a Big Fish then he will make the pond smaller.
NATO signing it's death warrant and it's probably a good thing. As Kissinger recognized decades ago , a Europe that is simply Greece to America's Rome a political backwater that tries to remain relevant through it's past cultural achievement but unable to exert any actual influence because of stagnation and weakness is neither good for Europe nor for America. .They just become bitter over their own impotence.
Allowing Europe to become proverbial adults who finally take care of themselves is probably in both of our interests. They've had 75 years of being babied. Time to let them leave the nest.
Europe is building a drone defense system to fight the wars of the future. Europe is also forming strategic alliances with China since the United States has become an unreliable partner. What is the United States offering for the remainder of the 21st century?
Seems they are. Wish granted. What are we going to do with it?
Wow. They'll be the only ones thinking of that.
Europe is also forming strategic alliances with China since the United States
Europe needs a new daddy and the country that fulfilled Mussolini's dream state seems perfect for them. I don't think they'll find China such a giving partner though. Ask Africa.
What are we going to do with it?
Stop paying for their defense for starters. Stop giving them information
So is Israel.
Europe as you know it will cease to exist in the next century unless they solve much bigger issues than drones.
The math on birthrates and immigration is so obvious even Katie Porter could work it out.
Free speech, safety and prosperity.
The UK imprisons about 1000 people/mo for social media posts the govt doesn't like. Meanwhile, over 1000 British girls have been raped by grooming gangs. No worries, though... they've caught 11 of the bastards. Jolly good.
If the UK, France, and Germany all joined the US, per capita GDP ranking by state would be 51) Germany, 52) UK, 53) Mississippi, and 540 France. (DC is #1).
Let's not get carried away.
NATO needs some reform, but Trump is utterly out of bounds demanding they step in to support his war.
I'd agree with this. They've been riding our deficit spending for far too long. We haven't been able to afford that for years, and it's past time the entire relationship was redefined on more equal terms.
Britain has had it's troops and bases attacked by Iran. Canada also had it's camp in Kuwait hit by Iran. Seems like they might want to defend themselves.
haven't been able to afford that for years, and it's past time the entire relationship was redefined on more equal terms.
Yes. We work together when interests align, we don't when they don't. Integration is not really necessary.
I think that's the only way their leadership could possibly sell that, and I think it's going to need to happen several times before they get enough public support.
I lived through much of the Cold War. When we were all living in fear of a nuclear attack or a Soviet invasion, I think there was a lot more patience with maintaining such large forces in Europe. But that's just living in the past. It's become our version of the Maginot Line.
Over the last decade or so, I think we've started to realize we spend entirely too much money and energy maintaining readiness to fight the last war instead of preparing to fight the next one.
I agree completely. The world has moved on.
Finally! Some is standing up to the Orange Mussolini