At 9 pm at the White House (1 am GMT on Thursday), the American president promised an “important” update on the military operation “Operation Fury” launched on February 28th, after many contradictory statements on short-term military tactics and long-term objectives. The only constant: Donald Trump insists that the war has been “won,” and that the Iranian “regime” has been defeated. In recent days, the White House and the “Commander in Chief” himself have also emphasized that the initial timetable, for a conflict not exceeding six weeks, will more or less be upheld, while also leaving the door open to a deployment of ground troops.
The American president stated on Monday that the offensive would last another two to three weeks and that its outcome would depend solely on his will, meaning not on negotiations with Tehran or on the condition of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trust rating at an all-time low
In addition to reassuring mostly skeptical Americans that everything is under control, a few months before they go to the polls for crucial legislative elections, the 79-year-old republican may open a new, diplomatic front, this time against NATO. The British newspaper “The Telegraph” asked him on Wednesday if he was considering questioning his country’s membership in the Atlantic Alliance after the conflict, to which he replied: “Oh yes, I would even say that it goes beyond mere questioning.”
However, Donald Trump’s constitutional leeway in this matter is not clear. At the very least, NATO could serve as a distraction for the American president. He emphasized that the U.S. allies should do more to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure has raised oil prices and, subsequently, the fuel expenses of Americans. He also claims that NATO costs American taxpayers a lot, who will now have to bear the very high cost of the war against Iran.
