Intra-NATO Split Over Hormuz Deepens as European Frustration Grows

Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund described 'a growing frustration with the failure of various approaches to the administration in trying to repair what has been a very challenging transatlantic relationship over the last year,' spanning issues from trade to Greenland, climate policy, and Ukraine — calling it 'a broad-gauge crisis of trust.' Despite Rutte's diplomatic efforts, many European nations maintained that joining any Hormuz operation was conditional on the fighting with Iran ending first. The split was described as the most visible intra-NATO rupture since the 2003 Iraq War.