Overview
- President Donald Trump blasted NATO on Truth Social, calling allies “cowards” and declaring, “Without the USA, NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” over their refusal to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- Commercial traffic through the strait remains effectively restricted by Iranian actions, disrupting a route that typically carries about 20% of global seaborne oil and LNG and fueling price volatility.
- U.S. Central Command reported 232 American service members injured since the conflict began, including 10 seriously wounded, with 207 returned to duty.
- The Pentagon is sending additional warships and roughly 2,500 Marines to the region as Washington increases pressure on Iran’s forces.
- Britain, France, Germany, Japan and others said they are prepared to “contribute to appropriate efforts,” yet no country has formally joined an operation, and Germany and Italy say they will wait for a ceasefire as analysts highlight Trump’s conflicting messages as a political liability.