President Donald Trump let allies have it when some rejected sending ships to help with a coalition effort to ensure the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. His last take showed how exasperated he was with our "allies" who weren't stepping up when he said that maybe the U.S. should just step back and not protect the Strait for others.
That called the allies' bluff. You then had NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announce that yes, the allies were talking about how they could contribute. What a little pressure from Trump can get. It isn't just about the Strait itself; it's about sending a message to Iran and indicating that they are on the wrong side of countries condemning their actions.
READ MORE: Trump Calls Reluctant Allies' Bluff on the Strait, Gets Big Response From NATO Chief
Now six of the allies - the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan - issued a joint statement supporting the coalition.
In the statement, the six U.S. allies condemned Iran's attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf and on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations, "and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces."
- "We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping," they wrote.
- The six U.S. allies expressed readiness "to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait" and start "preparatory planning."
That's a big flip after the Trump pressure. Maybe the Iranian-backed attack on the hotel that housed the EU Advisory Mission in Iraq opened their eyes a bit, too, that they can't sit on the sidelines, especially when it comes to their own interests.
Now, what their statement translates to isn't clear yet, but they're finally realizing that they need to be on the right side of the argument in condemning Iran and working to help keep the passage clear.
READ MORE: Sen. Kennedy's Epic Takedown of Keir Starmer for Failure to Step Up on Iran
European Countries Get Bitten by Karma After They Turn Down Trump Request for Ships for Strait
It sounds like our oldest ally, the U.K., might have been shamed into ships.
The U.K. sent military officers to CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida to start working with the U.S. military on planning for a Strait of Hormuz coalition, according to a source with knowledge.
- The UK navy has dispatched two war ships to the region to be ready to join a potential joint effort to reopen the strait.
They're joining India, which is sending ships to protect its own shipping, and the UAE has also said they are considering ships.
The U.S. is already softening up any of the Iranian missile batteries or positions that could threaten ships.
Meanwhile, the Gulf States and other leaders met in Riyadh and issued a statement against Iran, reserving the right to take military action against Iran for all their attacks on their neighbors. Saudi Arabia was particularly incensed at them and was talking about possible retaliatory military action.
Iran is painting itself into a corner, and they don't have a lot of options left.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2026/03/19/allies-finally-respond-on-strait-n2200396
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