Trump's Efforts to Open Hormuz Stall, Allies Doubt Effectiveness of Guards
US President Donald Trump is pushing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ease the global energy crisis, but the move is considered difficult to achieve without a ceasefire in the war against Iran. Sporadic attacks on ships and mine threats have brought traffic in the vital waterway to a near standstill, while Iran effectively controls access to the strait, which carries about a fifth of the world's oil supply.
Trump has urged allies to form a multinational naval coalition to escort commercial vessels. However, European and Asian partners are skeptical about the effectiveness of additional warships against Iran's ability to threaten shipping with mines, speedboats, submarines, and drones. Some officials believe the additional presence will have only a marginal impact beyond the already large US presence and will still be insufficient to restore normal trade.
This skepticism is reinforced by the experience in the Red Sea, where disruptions by the Houthis persisted despite military operations. Britain and France have expressed their unwillingness to be drawn directly into the conflict: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called opening Hormuz "not easy," while French President Emmanuel Macron said France would not participate in the current operation, although it is open to an escort system once the situation calms down. Several military analysts also consider the escort solution risky without a pause in the conflict, emphasizing that the Hormuz issue depends more on political decisions and de-escalation than on the addition of warships. (alg)
Source: Newsmaker.id
