WASHINGTON/DUBAI – The U.S. Military is deploying thousands more marines to the Middle East, officials said on Friday, as President Donald Trump accused NATO allies of cowardice over their reluctance to send forces to help open the Strait of Hormuz.
The narrow waterway, conduit for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, has been effectively closed to most shipping since the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran almost three weeks ago, on February 28. Vital energy infrastructure in both Iran and neighbouring Gulf states has too been attacked, and oil prices have jumped about 50% since the start of the conflict, threatening a global economic shock.
The deployment, confirmed by multiple defense officials speaking on background, is intended to bolster U.S. Naval presence in the region and deter further Iranian aggression, according to a statement released by the Pentagon. The exact number of marines being sent has not been disclosed, but sources indicate it is in the thousands and includes personnel specializing in maritime security and explosive ordnance disposal.
President Trump’s criticism of NATO came via a post on his Truth Social account Friday morning. “Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” he wrote. “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” He further claimed it would be “easy” for NATO to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, characterizing the failure to do so as a “simple military manoeuvre” responsible for high oil prices.
The White House echoed the President’s sentiment in a statement released shortly after his social media post. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated that the U.S. Could “take out” Iran’s Kharg Island “whenever it wanted,” and that President Trump “was resoundingly elected to position America First, and he will continue to bolster US national security through Operation Epic Fury, with or without NATO.”
The response from NATO allies has been largely muted. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated on Tuesday that the conflict “is not our war; we have not started it,” according to NBC News. This sentiment reflects a broader reluctance among European nations to become directly involved in a military escalation with Iran.
The U.S. Had initially sought a coordinated international effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but those efforts were rebuffed, according to reporting from the Associated Press. President Trump, following the lack of support, announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Did not need any help defending the vital shipping lane.
Iran’s military has responded to the escalating tensions with increasingly bellicose rhetoric. State media reported Friday that Iranian military officials threatened to “hunt down” U.S. And Israeli officials and commanders “wherever they were in the world,” according to ABC News. This follows reports that the U.S. Is weighing plans to blockade Kharg Island, a strategically vital Iranian port.
Oil prices continued to climb Friday, reaching levels not seen in months, as concerns over supply disruptions intensified. The International Energy Agency has warned of potential global economic consequences if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for an extended period.
As of Friday evening, no further announcements regarding diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict or reopen the Strait of Hormuz have been made by the White House or any of the involved parties.
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