Trump threatens countries with attack while discussing Middle East policy, including remarks about Oman in response to a proposal involving Iran and joint administration of the Strait of Hormuz. Oman has long been an American ally with a strong US military presence, and US war rationales have included protecting Gulf partners from Iran. Trump also pressures other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan to join the Abraham Accords, using language implying membership should be mandatory. His rhetoric has targeted or suggested attacks against many countries, including several nominal US allies or non-hostile states. The approach frames alliances as protection rackets, using military dominance to extract concessions through intimidation.
"During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, a reporter asked Trump if the United States would accept a proposal to allow Iran and Oman to jointly administer the Strait of Hormuz. The president responded, “Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that. They’ll be fine.”"
"Trump's opposition to any settlement that allows Iran partial control of the Strait is understandable, but his menacing words against Oman are puzzling. The Gulf State has, after all, been an American ally for decades, and the US maintains a strong military presence in the country. One supposed rationale of the current US war in the Middle East is to protect Oman and other Gulf allies against Iran."
"The president tried to browbeat Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan into joining the Abraham Accords by saying membership “should be mandatory.” And, as CNN notes, “Oman is at least the 15th country that he has either threatened to attack, left open the possibility of attacking, or actually attacked during his two terms as president.”"
"Trump is in effect using the war against Iran in the same way he exploited the Russia/Ukraine conflict: as a means of turning alliances into protection rackets by exhorting concessions from countries depending on the US military. It's a mafia foreign policy that uses US military dominance as a tool of extortion to intimidate friends and foes alike."
Read at The Nation
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