Trump downplays NATO support for the Strait of Hormuz, but one of his senators reveals: "He is very angry"

He downplays NATO's support in the Strait of Hormuz, but Republican Senator Lindsey Graham reveals: «I have never seen Trump so angry in my life, and I share his anger given what is at stake.» «The arrogance of our allies in suggesting that a nuclear-armed Iran is not a concern and that military action to stop the ayatollah is our problem and not theirs is offensive,» Graham added.

Trump's grand coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz will ultimately consist of only a handful of countries, mostly from the Gulf. Aligning with the U.S. are (by necessity) Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to Israel. Emmanuel Macron, as everyone knew, has ruled out French naval participation in open conflict, but he has expressed readiness «to take responsibility for the escort mechanism» of commercial vessels «in concert with other nations» when the situation «is calmer». Europe, in short, is staying out. «Diplomacy here is the only possible solution», cut in the EU's high representative, Kaja Kallas. Trump, through social media posts and statements at the White House, on one hand has returned to attacking NATO allies for not helping the U.S. «in its time of need», and on the other has disdainfully declared that he doesn't need anyone's help, given that America is the most powerful nation in the world. Certainly, NATO is making a “stupid mistake” but as for retaliation, perhaps not.

Only to return to the usual anti-Atlantic Alliance refrain: «I am not surprised by their behavior because I have always considered NATO, where we spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year to protect these very countries, as a one-way street». They take, in practice, without giving anything in return. And Trump is not at all 'happy' about it. The issue of war will obviously end up on the table of the European Council on Thursday, where the 27 have a long list of internal issues to address starting with reviving competitiveness, the true focus of the summit. «On the conflict in Iran, there will be a very concrete debate: Europe did not start this war, the member states were not even consulted», emphasized a senior European official.

"What we need to focus on now are the consequences. We therefore expect coordination on how Europe can contribute to reducing tensions in the region to avoid escalation, and we have called for a return to diplomacy in accordance with international law".

However, the side effects are being felt. Kallas has come under crossfire from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, where she has been criticized from both the right and the left - and even more so has Commission President Ursula von der Leyen - for not denouncing the illegality of the Israeli-American intervention, in stark contrast to the narrative adopted regarding Russia.

The former Estonian Prime Minister has been careful not to outline a clear position but, at the same time, has distanced herself again from von der Leyen's recent words ("Europe cannot be the guardian of a bygone era"). "This is not the time to rethink our identity, our priorities, our ambition for a peaceful world governed by solid international norms and rules", she reassured. "The world is truly looking to Europe and counting on us". However, when it comes to specifics, everything falls apart. The diplomatic strategy translates into contacts with multiple partners "to understand what proposals we can make to stop this war".

Then there are the usual internal distinctions. The Aspides mission, which could represent a concrete step forward in building the EU as a geopolitical actor, may indeed be strengthened but only to patrol the Red Sea, in case the Houthi raise their heads. Macron, regarding Hormuz, speaks of "a political, technical" and "operational" job to be built together with European and international partners, in coordination with "all maritime transport actors and insurers" to be developed in the coming "days and weeks". A coalition of the willing where the pivot will at most be Paris, certainly not Brussels.