Newly sworn-in Secretary of Defense Mark Esper says that the US is
prepared to commit military assets to the Persian Gulf to escort
civilian ships through the area. He says the deployments are meant to deter Iran.
Esper didn’t say that the military would be escorting ships, but only
that he was prepared to do so “if conditions demand it.” This will at
the very least likely mean even more US ships being sent to the region.
Esper cited Britain’s already having escorted some of its ships, though
Britain is so far the only nation that captured an Iranian ship, and
therefore Iran was interested in capturing a British ship in
retaliation.
US officials are also trying to present themselves as at least sort of
on board with Britain’s plan for an EU-led fleet in the region, with Gen. Joe Dunford saying he believes the British fleet wouldn’t be “stand-alone,” but rather would just support ongoing US operations.
That supposition may not be warranted. Britain’s proposal was largely a
copy of the US fleet proposal, except instead of the US being in charge,
the EU would be. That seems to have gotten some European nations on
board, where the US was unable, and it’s unlikely that they’re going to
just pretend it’s EU-led with the US really in charge.
This is ridiculous. Everyone with a brain can see that the goal is a US blockade of Iran – with or without the EU. The US wants the EU in so it can claim a “coalition” for propaganda purposes, that’s all. But if the US has to “go it alone” – as they always claim they will – then they will. The EU will join in once they figure a way to avoid being blamed for starting the resulting Iran war.