The Daily Trump’s Lonely War
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Apr 6, 2026 
Mark Landler, The New York Times Paris bureau chief covering Europe and trans-Atlantic ties, unpacks why Europe is refusing to back President Trump in Iran. He gets into broken trust, being shut out before the strikes, fears over Hormuz, the shadow of Iraq and Afghanistan, pressure over Ukraine and tariffs, and why NATO unity has limits.
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Europe Saw The Iran War Through Existing Trump Damage
- Europe’s refusal began before Iran because Trump had already battered trust with Greenland threats and tariffs.
- Mark Landler says Europe woke up to surprise strikes, then got asked for airspace and bases for a war it had not been told about.
Europe Could Not Stay Out Even While Refusing In
- Europe got pulled in anyway because its bases, regional security commitments, and energy dependence made neutrality impossible.
- Britain and France defended Gulf partners and their own bases, but refused Trump’s demand to forcibly reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iraq And Afghanistan Shape Europe’s Skepticism
- European leaders reject the war partly because they doubt strikes can eliminate Iran’s nuclear program or safely reopen the strait.
- Landler says Iraq and Afghanistan still loom large, making another open-ended U.S.-led war politically and strategically toxic.