Left-wing MEP Per Clausen has asked the EU's foreign policy chief what concrete action the bloc will take if US forces attempt to block ships from EU countries from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the current US threats are illegal and could lead to attacks on EU vessels and crew.
The written question, submitted on 13 April 2026 under Rule 144 of the European Parliament's rules of procedure, targets the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Clausen cites recent statements by Donald Trump that the US will prevent ships from sailing through the strategic waterway, which he calls "manifestly illegal under international law."
Concrete asks and policy direction
The question contains three specific demands. First, Clausen asks what concrete action the EU will take if US forces seek—including by force—to prevent EU-flagged ships from using the Strait. Second, he asks whether such US attempts would trigger the EU's anti-coercion mechanism immediately. Third, he asks whether the High Representative has already made clear to the Trump administration that the threats are illegal and unacceptable and will be met with a response if carried out.
The MEP's language is notably blunt, contrasting "concrete action" with what he calls "the usual empty, bland statements of condemnation." This suggests he expects the EU to move beyond diplomatic statements toward tangible measures, potentially including economic countermeasures or naval escort operations.
Expected follow-up
The High Representative is required to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the EU views the US threats as a trigger for its anti-coercion instrument—a tool designed to deter third-country coercion—and whether it has already engaged diplomatically with Washington. Given the gravity of the issue, the reply could indicate a significant shift in EU-US relations if the bloc signals readiness to confront US actions militarily or economically.