Donald Trump’s efforts to secure help to secure Strait of Hormuz met with strong skepticism, report says
US efforts to build an international coalition to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz “chaos” That’s because Washington’s partners are reluctant to provide aid, Axios reported Monday, citing sources.
US-Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran have led to the disruption of oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. The virtual shutdown of one of the world’s major energy chokepoints has sent shockwaves through global oil markets, with Brent crude trading above $100 per barrel at times.
According to Axios, US President Donald Trump’s administration is lobbying several Gulf states including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea, as well as Jordan, to provide naval vessels or other forms of support for the purpose of securing regional shipping lanes.
However, reactions from potential partners have been mixed, the outlet said “Doubt to ‘Hell No’.” Germany, Italy and Japan have reportedly ruled out sending naval vessels, but France has not committed. Described as UK Prime Minister Keir Stormer “lean forward” With London creating a proposal for a multinational task force, sources told Axios.
However, the roadmap has not been shared with all the countries invited and a European diplomat briefed the talks “chaos” is telling the outlet “A lot of people are confused.”
In public, EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said there was “not hungry” Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a bid to participate in the US-led coalition against Iran “This is not our war, we did not start it.” Meanwhile, Trump warned that NATO could confront “A Very Bad Future” If its European members refuse to participate.
The Iran war continues with no apparent end in sight, the Washington Post reported, citing sources familiar with Trump “Very Serious Briefings” Iran’s leadership remains firmly in control of the country. The newspaper added that Trump had been warned that the government in Tehran could consolidate power rather than collapse.
“It’s just unimaginable,” A WaPo source said. “That was assumed. He was told beforehand.”
