By Daniel DePetris
Even as the Biden administration seeks to deescalate tensions with Iran through a prisoner exchange, the U.S. is debating a plan that would put armed U.S. sailors and Marines aboard civilian vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic Middle East waterway where approximately a fifth of the world’s sea-born crude oil passes. The idea, which aims to deter Tehran from harassing or capturing the vessels, has reportedly received support from senior U.S. policymakers. While President Joe Biden has yet to sign off, the decision “has pretty much been made,” according to an unnamed U.S. official.
Details of the proposal are still in flux but, based on public reporting, the U.S. is looking to offer vulnerable ships what would effectively be an armed guard staffed and paid for courtesy of the U.S. military. Unfortunately, it would also be another step up the escalation ladder in the Middle East at a time when the administration is purportedly interested in right-sizing its regional presence in favor of the Indo-Pacific.
This piece was originally published in Stars and Stripes on August 16, 2023. Read more HERE.