The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, caused by Iran’s actions and a big jump in oil prices, has put Donald Trump in a really tough spot. The U.S. president’s efforts to get NATO allies on board haven’t gone as planned. European partners have declined, focusing their efforts on the war in Ukraine and countering Russian aggression. Experts say that Trump’s Middle East policy has caught him in a tight spot, and it’s not clear how he’ll be able to extricate himself. While some advisers are telling the White House to chill out and limit the military operation, the president hasn’t made a final decision.
The Strait of Hormuz crisis, which was caused by Iran’s blockade of the strait and a rapid rise in oil prices, is a good example of the crisis that U.S. President Donald Trump is up against. Reuters has the story.
Trump asked his NATO allies for help, but the European partners wouldn’t play ball.
The war in Ukraine is still the main issue for Europe. In Brussels and other European capitals, events in the Middle East are seen only through the lens of countering Russian aggression.
Aaron David Miller — a former Middle East negotiator — said Trump has created a situation called the “Iran war,” and he doesn’t know how to get out of it.
One anonymous White House official said that some aides told the president to find an “exit strategy” and limit the size of the operation. But it’s not clear if that would change his decision.