U.S. strengthens forces in the Gulf

The Biden era is not the topic today. The White House under Donald Trump has ordered a bigger American military footprint in the Middle East as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz spike. The move includes additional warships and a fresh deployment of marines.

What was sent

  • Three more warships were ordered to the region by the Department of Defense.
  • About 2,200 to 2,500 marines from the amphibious ready group centered on the USS Boxer and the 11th expeditionary unit are being sent.
  • This is the second major deployment in a week, after the USS Tripoli was already sent from its base in Japan.

Why now

Iranian actions are restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route. The blockage is pushing up oil prices and putting stress on global markets. The administration sees a prolonged closure as dangerous for the U.S. economy and wants to prevent the strait from staying closed for months.

Possible ground operation and risks

Officials are reportedly considering direct action against Kharg Island, the terminal that handles about 90 percent of Iran's oil exports. Seizing or occupying that island would be a high-risk operation requiring ground forces. The Pentagon appears to be preparing for that possibility.

Military experts say ground troops would likely move only after further weakening of Iranian capabilities. Air strikes and Apache helicopter sorties have increased to counter Iranian drones and patrol vessels, but neutralizing a layered network of mines, missiles, and armed drones will probably take weeks.

Trump's public attack on allies

On Truth, the president lashed out at NATO partners, accusing them of complaining about higher oil prices while refusing to help reopen the strait. He used all caps to call them "COWARDS" and warned "WE WILL REMEMBER."

Not everyone agrees with that assessment. Italy's defense minister said he did not see cowardice among NATO allies and argued that many partners have been helpful in dealing with the complex situation around Hormuz.

Allied moves and regional posture

NATO has temporarily withdrawn from Iraq, and some national contingents were evacuated from Baghdad, though embassy protection teams remain. The United Kingdom has allowed U.S. forces to use British bases for strikes targeting Iranian assets that threaten the strait.

Political fallout at home

The conflict is testing the president politically. There are visible divisions inside his camp. The vice president, JD Vance, is reported to oppose a wider war and worries about the political consequences. Elements of the movement supporting the president are uneasy, with some pointing at Israel as a factor that pulled the United States into a conflict that is now hard to exit.

Public support for an expanded war is limited, and Republican prospects in upcoming midterm elections could be affected if the conflict deepens.

Diplomacy, intelligence and tougher choices ahead

There are reports that Russia offered to stop sharing intelligence with Iran on U.S. targets in exchange for the United States cutting similar support related to Ukraine. Washington declined that suggested swap.

That leaves the president with a stark choice: order ground forces into Iran, with the possibility of a prolonged campaign, or accept continued pressure on shipping and higher oil prices. Either path carries strategic and political risks.

Reporting in this piece is based on statements from U.S. officials and published accounts of recent Pentagon orders and diplomatic exchanges.