Day 17 of the war in the Middle East and as the missiles and the drones keep falling, the US President has done a U turn on needing help from his friends and allies. Trump is calling now for a coalition to keep open the Strait of Hormuz. The US strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island on Friday 13th sent a message to Tehran, but it did not take away the potential threat to shipping in and out of the Persian Gulf.

For Trump, this call to stand together is something of a turn-around. On March 7th, Trump told US network CBS it’s a bit late of the United Kingdom and others to send ships. He didn’t need British help to win his war. Now, Trump is calling on NATO allies to join him in the war he started on February 28th without consulting them. There’s a common interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. But would it even be at risk if Trump had not started the whole crisis?