By aligning with Trump, will Mark Rutte turn against Europeans?

The Secretary General of NATO, the Dutchman Mark Rutte, has caused tensions after supporting the American strategy in Iran, especially during his appearance on the show Face the Nation, on Sunday, March 22, on the New York television channel CBS. According to the British newspaper Financial Times, his suggestion that European allies would eventually “unite” to respond to Donald Trump’s call – who asked them on March 15 to deploy naval assets to help secure the Strait of Hormuz – is not well received in several capitals.

In practice, however, the Europeans did the opposite. The day after the American president’s call, they collectively refused to further engage in the conflict. “This is not our war,” European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized, a sentiment echoed by several EU member states.

At the same time, a joint statement, issued on the sidelines of the European summit on March 19 and 20, outlined a more nuanced position. The statement, endorsed by about thirty countries, including several EU members, expressed readiness to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz.”

But this openness is conditional: no military intervention is currently being considered. In other words, securing Hormuz may be on the table, but not right now.

“This puts us in a very delicate situation”

Behind the scenes, the unease is palpable. “This puts us in a very delicate and uncomfortable situation,” a European diplomat told the influential London-based newspaper. “We want to show our goodwill, but… we are in no position to get involved in the conflict.”

The issue is not new, as Mark Rutte has a history of close ties with Donald Trump. During a NATO summit in June 2025, he even referred to Trump as “Dad,” eliciting annoyance from several chancelleries. In the CBS show, as noted by the American media Politico, he again deemed Trump “crucial” for international security, while justifying his strikes against Iran:

“He does this so that the whole world is safe.”

“For him, there are no other options than to wait for the help of the American father figure,” chuckled the Spanish newspaper El Periódico de Catalunya.

This stance contrasts with a Europe primarily concerned about the economic consequences of the conflict. The war has caused energy prices to skyrocket, highlighting the Old Continent’s dependence. The Financial Times points out that some capitals, including Paris, are indeed considering participating in naval patrols in the Strait of Hormuz – but only after the conflict – to secure a route through which more than a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports pass.