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Strait talk on Hormuz: Insults, chaos, shadow of Iraq keep Trump’s allies at bay?

Published on 17 March 2026

France 24 – The debate– 16 Mach 2026

(43’45”)

Content

It’s Day 17 of the war in the Middle East and as the missiles and drones keep falling, the US president has done a U-turn on needing help from his friends and allies. Donald Trump is calling now for a coalition to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. The US strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island on Friday sent a message to Tehran, but did not take away the potential threat to shipping in and out of the Persian Gulf.

For Trump, this call to stand together is something of a turn-around. On March 7, he told US network CBS it was a bit late of the United Kingdom and others to send ships. The US president didn’t need British help to win his war. 

Now, Trump is calling on NATO allies to join him in the war he started on February 28 without consulting them. There’s a common interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. But would it even be at risk had Trump not started this whole crisis?

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