Let's talk about Europe maybe cleaning up Trump's Iran mess in the Strait.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about Europe maybe cleaning up Trump's Iran mess in the Strait.

So, we got a message and I think it's worth going over because this is obviously going to be the talking point and it's important to know that it's a complete rejection of reality, "I've seen all your doom and gloom about how bad Trump's doing. Well, do you have anything to say about Fox reporting that 35 NATO navies are on the way to clear the Strait of Hormuz? It seems like Trump didn't undermine the alliances that much. He forced their hand. No more free rides.”

Normally, I would make a joke like, "Well, if Fox said it, it has to be true." But I don't believe Fox said this. Imagine getting something so wrong that people don't believe it came from Fox. 35 NATO navies, huh? Name them. Let me help you out. There's only 32 NATO countries. And you could say that's a rounding error. Except for the fact that Iceland, while it has an expansive coast guard, doesn't have a navy.

Then there's a bunch of landlocked NATO countries. They don't have blue water navies. Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic. Look, I know most of y'all like movies depicting that period of time, but this isn't The Sound of Music. Austria doesn't have a navy. So, no. 35 NATO navies aren't coming. I guarantee it. Even if every NATO ally signed on, there wouldn't be 30. That being said, I'm sure some countries are thinking about establishing a presence. Not because Trump forced their hand, but because he's made such a mess of things that they have to come clean it up.

It might have something to do with the French president saying he would work at the UN level to see what could be done. And then the UN Secretary General saying, "The conflict has broken past the limits even leaders thought unimaginable. The world is staring down the barrel of a wider war, a rising tide of human suffering, and a deeper global economic shock.

Trump's elective war has disrupted a fifth of the world's oil and caused major issues for countries all over the world. They aren't jumping in because Trump wants them to. They might jump in because they don't believe Trump can handle it. But it's also worth noting that Iran sent a letter recently to the International Maritime Organization saying they'd allow passage of what they called non-hostile ships.

“Navigation continues subject to compliance with the necessary measures referenced above and the realities arising from the ongoing conflict. It is further underscored that vessels, equipment, and any assets belonging to the aggressor parties, namely the United States and the Israeli regime, as well as other participants in the aggression, do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage.”

Allowing innocent and non-hostile passage is probably the result of some countries engaging in back channel diplomatic efforts that didn't wind up on Truth Social.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.