The enemy gets a vote; so do allies

President Trump has voiced his frustration with allied reluctance to help the United States reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He specifically called upon France, Japan, South Korea, and Britain as well as NATO to send warships as well as mine countermeasures systems to support the American effort. Thus far, neither NATO nor any of the four named countries, nor any other, has responded positively to Trump’s request.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that while Britain will give American forces access to bases, it will only do so for “limited defensive action.” He has made it clear, while Britain will take “the necessary action” to defend itself and its allies, his country “will not be drawn into the wider war.” Starmer cannot afford to alienate the British public that by significant majorities opposes British involvement in the war; his standing in public opinion polls already has declined significantly since Labor won an overwhelming Parliamentary majority in 2024. The last time Britain gave only cautious support to an American operation was during the course of the Vietnam War.

French and German reluctance to join American operations in the Strait of Hormuz reflects a degree of hesitancy that is of more recent vintage. Both states supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, but France and Germany refused to support the Second Gulf War.

Although both Japan and South Korea did support the 2003 American operation in Iraq, Tokyo has made it clear that it will not become involved in the operations in the Gulf. For its part, Seoul has been reluctant to part with Patriot........

© The Hill