Europe is accelerating a defense emergency plan that does not rely on the United States, covering two fronts: the NATO command structure and post-war arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
On April 14, it was reported that European countries are formulating a plan aimed at establishing a broad coalition of nations to help clear shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, including deploying minesweepers and other military vessels.
However, this plan will only be implemented after the war ends. French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Tuesday that the plan is an international defense operation that does not include &#34;belligerents,&#34; namely the United States, Israel, and Iran.
At the NATO level, reports indicate that European officials are accelerating a proposal some refer to as &#34;European NATO,&#34; with the goal of maintaining deterrence against Russia, operational continuity, and the credibility of nuclear deterrence even if the United States reduces or withdraws its military presence in Europe.
Both plans reflect deep fissures in transatlantic relations.
During recent NATO meetings, Trump berated allies as &#34;cowards,&#34; called NATO a &#34;paper tiger,&#34; and threatened to withdraw from the alliance due to Europe's refusal to support US military action against Iran. These statements have significantly accelerated Europe's pace of autonomous action.
<h2>The Hormuz Plan: Excluding the US, Launching Post-War</h2>
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Europe is drafting a separate post-war escort scheme to restore confidence in shipping through the strait.
According to reports, the plan includes three stages: first, clearing hundreds of ships currently stranded in the strait; second, launching large-scale mine-clearing operations to remove mines possibly laid by Iran at the onset of the conflict; and third, deploying frigates and destroyers to carry out routine escort and surveillance missions.
Macron has publicly stated that this international defense mission should not include belligerents such as the United States, Israel, and Iran, and European vessels would not be placed under US command.
This Friday, Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host an online meeting involving dozens of countries to discuss how to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict ends. The United States is not invited.
Germany's participation is a highlight. According to a senior German official cited in reports, Germany had previously publicly resisted any notion of military intervention but will now join the plan as a key member, potentially formally committing as early as Thursday.
Germany possesses significant advantages in mine-clearing capabilities. Approximately 12 mine-hunting and mine-sweeping vessels are stationed in Kiel Port, while the US has substantially reduced its own mine-sweeping fleet. European countries collectively possess over 150 such vessels. Germany can also provide reconnaissance aircraft deployed in Djibouti.
However, divisions still exist within Europe. British officials worry that excluding the US could anger Trump and limit the scale of the mission.
Additionally, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that the mission can only commence after hostilities cease and the situation stabilizes, and requires coordination with coastal states such as Iran and Oman, meaning the mission cannot proceed without Iran's consent.
The plan references the &#34;Operation Aspides&#34; model executed by the EU Naval Force in the Red Sea in 2024. Multiple EU countries rotate providing frigates to escort commercial vessels in a purely defensive manner, operating independently, distinct from the larger, US-led &#34;Operation Prosperity Guardian.&#34;
Mujtaba Rahman, Head of Eurasia Group's Europe business, stated:
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At some point, an escort system or convoy will be needed. Insurers and shippers are likely to demand such protection.
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<h2>&#34;European NATO&#34;: Structural Reshaping Faces Huge Challenges</h2>
The &#34;European NATO&#34; plan currently being advanced aims to place more Europeans in NATO command and control positions and fill potential gaps left by the US with European military assets.
These plans were first proposed last year and accelerated after Trump threatened to seize Greenland from NATO member Denmark.
Now, with Europe refusing to support the US war in Iran, relations have reached a deadlock, making the advancement of these plans even more urgent. According to participants cited in reports, these plans are advancing through informal discussions and dinner meetings both inside and outside NATO.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently stated that the alliance will be &#34;more led by Europe.&#34; Finnish President Alexander Stubb, one of the leaders involved in the plan, told reporters:
<blockquote>
The burden (of manpower, funding, and risk) is continuously shifting from the US to Europe. Most importantly, we must understand that this must be done in a very orderly and controlled manner, rather than a (US) rapid withdrawal.
</blockquote>
However, the challenges are immense. The position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe has traditionally been held by an American, and US officials have indicated no intention of relinquishing this role.
Decades of insufficient defense spending by European member states have resulted in clear shortcomings in intelligence, satellite monitoring, anti-submarine warfare, space and reconnaissance capabilities, aerial refueling, and strategic airlift. These gaps cannot be bridged in the short term.
Retired US Navy Admiral James Foggo stated that European officers are excellent in quality, &#34;capable and equipped with some hardware,&#34; but investment and capability building need to accelerate.
In terms of specific measures, European officials are pushing for more member states to reintroduce conscription and accelerate joint R&amp;D in key areas. Germany and the UK announced last month joint development of stealth cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons, seen as early results of a new cooperation framework.
<h2>Germany's Shift Becomes a Critical Turning Point</h2>
For decades, Germany has been the greatest obstacle to calls for European defense autonomy, tending to view the US as the ultimate guarantor of European security. However, this stance began to shift during Chancellor Merz's tenure.
According to sources cited in reports, Merz began re-evaluating this long-standing position from late last year, believing that Trump is prepared to abandon Ukraine and can no longer lead NATO policy with a clear values-based framework.
Nevertheless, he did not wish to openly question the alliance but instead chose to push for Europe to take greater responsibility within the alliance. The ideal scenario is for the US to remain in NATO, with the defense burden gradually shifting to Europe.
Germany's shift has opened the door to broader consensus. The UK, France, Poland, Nordic countries, and Canada subsequently joined, characterizing this emergency plan as a &#34;coalition of the willing&#34; within the NATO framework. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated:
<blockquote>
NATO is irreplaceable for both Europe and the US, but it must become more European to maintain its transatlantic character.
</blockquote>
Germany's entry also unlocked the most sensitive issue in European sovereign defense: replacing the US nuclear umbrella.
After Trump threatened to annex Greenland, Merz and Macron discussed whether French nuclear deterrent forces could be extended to include other European countries such as Germany.
<h2>Transatlantic Relations: Fissures Continue to Widen</h2>
Behind the simultaneous advancement of these two plans lies the backdrop of continuously deteriorating transatlantic relations.
Not only has Trump imposed tariffs on European exports and withdrawn support on the Ukraine issue, but he has also threatened to use military force against Danish NATO allies to seize Greenland. Recently, he threatened to withdraw from NATO due to Europe's refusal to support his military action against Iran.
Trump himself admitted that the Greenland controversy was the trigger for this round of relationship breakdown. Regarding his threat to withdraw from NATO, he stated:
<blockquote>
If you want to know the truth, everything started with Greenland. We wanted Greenland, they wouldn't give it to us, so I said, 'Okay, goodbye.'
</blockquote>
Trump requested European participation in blocking Iranian ports to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but European leaders like Starmer refused, stating that Europe's focus is on clearing shipping lanes, not further restrictions.
Europe's proactive planning of its own security arrangements is, in a sense, a response to Trump's long-standing demand for allies to &#34;bear more responsibility,&#34; though the approach differs significantly from what the US expected.

Europe is accelerating two independent defense plans: one is a post-war escort scheme for the Strait of Hormuz, covering port clearance, mine sweeping, and routine protection without US participation; the other is a 'European NATO' emergency framework aimed at maintaining deterrence against Russia if US presence is reduced. Analysts argue that Europe's move is both self-protection and an alternative response to Trump's demand for Europe to 'take more responsibility'

Germany Shifts Stance, Europe Prepares 'US-Independent Plan': NATO and the Strait of Hormuz to Be Resolved by Europe Itself