Recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the war on Iran reflect his desire to end it without achieving its objectives, while seeking to offload its burdens onto other nations, particularly concerning the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
In her article, writer Lisa Rozovsky emphasized that Trump's efforts could lead to the emergence of new alliances that may marginalize the United States and Israel, contrary to what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims about forming a regional force supportive of Israel.
Details of the Event
Rozovsky discussed in her article titled "Trump Ignites the Fire of Discord in the Middle East and Expects the World to Extinguish It" the remarks made by White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt, who confirmed that opening the Strait of Hormuz is not a goal of the war. In his recent speech, Trump presented two options to countries dependent on oil: either buy oil from the United States or "arm themselves with courage" to control the strait.
Trump also expressed his anger with a clear threat to withdraw from NATO, which could leave European countries, especially Ukraine, alone in facing the Russian threat. Although there is a Western consensus on the necessity of securing the Strait of Hormuz, cracks in this consensus have begun to appear, particularly with Britain's stance that securing the strait should be done in cooperation with the United States.
Context and Background
During the initial weeks of the war, there was a sense of Western consensus on supporting the security of the Strait of Hormuz, but this consensus has begun to erode. Britain has shown hesitation in separating from its historical partner France, asserting that any cooperation with the United States could be dangerous. At the same time, Europeans recognize that entering into a dispute with Trump at this stage could be risky, especially since they cannot confront Russia without support.
Rozovsky also quoted a diplomat from the Middle East who noted that the United States and Israel felt disappointed when Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan joined a summit of foreign ministers seeking to reach an agreement between the United States and Iran, indicating Saudi Arabia's interest in a diplomatic solution.
Implications and Effects
Haaretz indicates that the level of trust among Gulf countries in their alliance with the United States is declining. If Trump succeeds in shifting the challenge of opening the Strait of Hormuz onto Europe and Gulf countries, it could be a real test of both blocs' ability to build a regional alliance independent of the United States.
This potential alliance could lead to the marginalization of Israel, contradicting Netanyahu's ambitions to transform Israel into a regional power. Israel may find itself in deeper political isolation after the war compared to the isolation resulting from the war in Gaza.
Impact on the Arab Region
Today, 36 countries are meeting in an effort to diplomatically and politically pressure for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and to restore freedom of navigation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the virtual meeting chaired by his country will assess all possible actions.
The President of the European Commission emphasized that Iran's actions threaten global economic stability, stressing the importance of working with partners to ensure the resumption of freedom of navigation in the strait as soon as possible.