Spain says, according to AP, that it has closed its airspace to American aircraft involved in the war. Such a decision places a severe strain on trust within the alliance, even if it concerns only one country. The other European allies have also shown little willingness to contribute.

<:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}> wants European allies to contribute to the patrolling and safeguarding of passage through the Strait of Hormuz. There has never been any question of combat operations. Yet even that is too much for the Europeans.

Federal Chancellor <:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}> has criticised the conduct of the war and warned against escalation. The Europeans ignore the Tehran regime’s crimes against its own people and call Trump’s motives into question.

It remains to be seen whether the alliance will be the same when the war is over.