Answering the media, US President Donald Trump made arguments contrary to the current strategy of the White House. Just hours after putting pressure on NATO allies to join the war to clear the Strait of Hormuz, he affirmed that the US does not really need this route because it has become energy-independent.
It can be argued that we should not have been there at all, because we don't need it. The US is currently the world's number one oil producer," the US President affirmed.
The wave of protests erupted immediately when observers discovered inconsistencies in the White House's strategy. On social networks, many people expressed dissatisfaction, especially when the number of US military personnel killed in this conflict reached 13 as of March 15.
Relatives of the deceased soldiers also spoke out against the President's sudden change of view. Mr. Stephan Douglas - whose cousin was the pilot who died last week - shared with ABC News that the family is experiencing "the worst nightmare". Mr. Douglas said that this war is completely preventable and the US maintaining military presence in the Gulf region was a baseless decision from the beginning.
Meanwhile, diplomatic pressure that Mr. Trump is creating is counterproductive in Europe. Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister - Mr. Xavier Bettel - declared that his country will not succumb to "extortion" from the US.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, although trying to find a plan to reopen the strait, also resolutely affirmed that Britain will not be drawn into a larger conflict. Even close allies such as Australia, France and Japan have confirmed that there are no plans to send warships as requested by the US.
Mr. Trump's inconsistent statements are weakening the trust of allies and pushing international relations into a state of rift. The inconsistency in the message from the White House is making the situation in the Middle East increasingly unpredictable.
