BRUSSELS — European Union leaders refused to join United States and Israeli military campaigns in the Middle East during a summit in Brussels on March 19, 2026. The leaders deflected entreaties from U.S. President Donald Trump to send military assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the global flow of oil, gas and fertilizer.

Rising energy prices due to the war and fears of a new refugee crisis pushed European leaders to make the Middle East a priority at the summit. The summit was initially expected to center on overcoming Hungary's opposition to a massive loan for Ukraine, but the conflicts in Iran and Lebanon reset the agenda.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there was "no appetite" among leaders to expand a European naval force in the Red Sea to help secure the Strait of Hormuz or otherwise join the fray. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, "We can and will commit ourselves only when the weapons fall silent. We can then do a great deal, up to opening sea lanes and keeping them clear, but we're not doing it during ongoing combat operations." Merz said that an international mandate and other steps would be required before considering German participation in securing shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

European Council President Antonio Costa said, "Energy means security. We should build our own capacity to produce our own energy, because it's the only way to be secure." Britain refused to be drawn into the Middle East war, while France said the fighting would have to die down before it could join military operations in the Middle East.

The European Commission told leaders it has a mix of financial instruments that member nations could deploy to lower energy prices. Some European capitals called for the suspension or scrapping of climate policies to mitigate recent spikes in energy prices caused by the war, while others argued for focusing on home-grown sustainable energy.

EU leaders hope their experience reducing reliance on Russian energy after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and increasing military spending will help achieve energy independence.