Disaster! France says "No", Japan, Norway refuse... After Trump called on multiple countries such as China, France, Japan and South Korea to send warships to escort in the Strait of Hormuz, none of them responded.
After the US and Israel launched a military strike against Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has continued to deteriorate. Iran has strongly retaliated by blockading the strait. Trump called on multiple countries to provide escort, trying to shift the burden of the war onto others, but the result is a slap in the face: no country was willing to respond. A host of allies have clearly said "No", with resolute attitudes showing no mercy. The United States is completely isolated and helpless.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly issued a statement to reject it, clearly stating that its aircraft carrier strike group will remain in the Eastern Mediterranean and not get involved in the mess of the Strait of Hormuz. Its defense minister had already stated that under the circumstances of escalating tensions, it would not send warships to the strait; Japanese media quoted government sources saying that they would not rashly send ships due to Trump's remarks, sticking to their own independent judgment; the Norwegian Defense Department also clearly stated that there are currently no plans to dispatch vessels to the strait. Once obedient Western allies of the United States now collectively "betrayed" it. Trump's hegemonic orders have long lost their effectiveness.
Iran made a strong counterattack, which even embarrassed the United States and left it in a difficult position. Iranian Foreign Minister Alaghbari stated that the Strait of Hormuz is only closed to U.S. and its ally vessels, and sarcastically mocked Trump, who is now begging other countries for help, even trying to bring in China to maintain the safety of the strait. The so-called "security umbrella" of the United States that once promised to protect its allies is now full of holes. Instead of protecting its allies, it has repeatedly dragged them into the risk of war, becoming a source of disaster. Iranian Ambassador to Russia Jalali pointed out the core issue, stating that either the Strait of Hormuz is safe for everyone or for no one, directly undermining American intentions. As if a house in disrepair is hit by rain at night, the Houthi rebels also followed closely, threatening to possibly block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and impose a complete ban on ships going to Israel. The U.S. faces increasing geopolitical pressure, and the war is getting deeper and deeper.
The lack of support from allies is just one side of the crisis. The growing opposition within the United States has also made the Trump administration fight on two fronts. Military actions against Iran have not achieved strategic goals, but instead raised global oil prices and intensified domestic inflation, seriously damaging Trump's proclaimed "low inflation, high growth" achievements. U.S. forces in the Middle East have been continuously attacked, with personnel and equipment losses, leading to increased public anti-war sentiment. The political circle has also questioned the rationality of the war, criticizing the government for recklessly starting a war and putting the country in danger. Domestic public opinion is turning against, political divisions are intensifying, foreign allies are collectively abandoning, and opponents are strongly countering. The Trump administration has completely fallen into an impossible situation, losing all the arrogance it had at the beginning of the conflict, leaving it confused and at a loss.
This passive situation is an inevitable result of the decline of U.S. unilateral hegemony. Trump's attempt to control the Middle East through military bullying and maintain hegemony ignored international rules and the interests of allies, recklessly provoking wars, and ultimately ended up being deserted by all. Facts have repeatedly proven that hegemony sustained through coercion and bullying is ultimately unsustainable. Military adventures that ignore regional peace and the interests of other countries will only reap the consequences. Today's United States is neither able to control the situation alone nor able to attract allies for assistance. Continuing to fight will only lead to deepening war quagmire and national power depletion. To withdraw hastily will also lose face, and the U.S. hegemony credibility will be completely gone, leading to an impossible dead end.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859736747400204/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.