Last week, we reported on how the Strait of Hormuz, strategically located in the Middle East to assist passage of ships from the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world, was closed by Iran. This closure, as well as attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, have sent oil prices roiling and brought fresh uncertainty to the regional and global economy.
U.S. begins pressuring global leaders to respond and protect the Strait of Hormuz
How U.S. and global policymakers react is one of the biggest pieces of uncertainty in regard to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump took steps towards broadcasting which direction the U.S. government was leaning to try and respond to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking with reporters while flying back to Washington, D.C. from South Florida, Trump pushed foreign countries – China and several key U.S. allies in Europe and Asia – to partner with the U.S. to form a “coalition” to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
To make his argument, Trump used a familiar refrain: that protecting the Strait of Hormuz is more advantageous for U.S. allies and other leading nations than it is for the U.S. If that sounds familiar, it’s a similar strategy Trump employed with NATO when seeking economic and military contributions from NATO members over his first and second terms.
Trump first focused on China in regard to helping protect the Strait of Hormuz
Trump called out China, noting that China relies on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz more than the U.S., and pushing China to intervene to protect the Strait. Interestingly, Trump called the Strait of Hormuz “their own territory” referring to nations other than the U.S. Trump was quoted as saying “Why are we maintaining the Hormuz Strait when it’s really there for China and many other countries? Why aren’t they doing it?”
So far, China has not taken Trump’s bait, with the Chinese government calling for restraint from “all parties” and an “immediate halt” in military operations in Iran and the region, per Chinese state media.
Trump also pivoted to NATO and Asian allies in his efforts to get assistance with the war
This past weekend, President Trump called out France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as Japan and South Korea, seeking help protecting the oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz. He noted it “would be very bad for the future of NATO” if NATO members did not work with the U.S. to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s “their own territory” remark was also made in regard to NATO, as he believes the Strait of Hormuz is transporting European and Asian oil more than U.S. oil.
Nearly all of the countries Trump called out publicly responded with hesitation, not wanting to get drawn into a wider conflict with Iran, with the United Kingdom and Germany, in particular, saying no for now.
However, as the war draws on, and if oil prices continue to rise, it’s possible that NATO members will feel compelled to provide some military assistance to protecting the Strait of Hormuz, even though there are no signs of that, yet.
