The global standoff over the Strait of Hormuz reached a turning point this weekend as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz confirmed that international allies are moving toward military cooperation to reopen the critical waterway.
Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Waltz noted that the shift comes as President Trump continues to press for collective action against the Iranian regime. Waltz told host Margaret Brennan that allies are beginning to “come around as they should,” while emphasizing that the administration would not allow Iran to “hold the world’s energy supplies hostage.”
The move follows weeks of hesitation from NATO members and global partners after Iran effectively closed the strait in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes. The resulting bottleneck has caused global energy prices to spike, directly impacting fuel costs for American consumers.
The pressure intensified Friday when President Trump criticized NATO on Truth Social, calling the alliance a “paper tiger” without U.S. support and arguing that reopening the strait is a “simple military maneuver” that allies should assist with to lower their own oil costs.
Despite initial reluctance, diplomatic momentum appears to be building. Just a day before Trump’s comments, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom issued a joint letter condemning Iran’s restrictions on shipping.
The group expressed a “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage” and welcomed nations currently involved in preparatory planning.
Specific commitments are already emerging. Ambassador Waltz pointed to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who pledged “portions of her navy” to the effort following a meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte further detailed the coalition’s growth, telling Brennan that 22 countries—both within and outside the NATO alliance—have stepped forward to address security in the region. Rutte identified British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as being “at the forefront” of the planning.
Rutte added that military planners are currently coordinating to determine the “where” and “when” of the operation to ensure “free sailing,” which he described as crucial for the world economy.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi challenged this narrative on Sunday, writing on X that the strait remains open.
Araghchi claimed that shipping delays are not the result of an Iranian blockade, but rather because “insurers fear the war of choice” initiated by the U.S. and its allies.
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