US influence tested as allies hesitate over Hormuz coalition, Analysts warn

US President Donald Trump's call for a naval coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has been met with reluctance from key allies, with Japan, France and the UK declining or hesitating to commit warships—a rejection analysts say reflects diminished US influence and the "limits of American power." Salman Shaikh, founder of the Shaikh Group and former UN official, told Al Jazeera this is "the wrong war at the wrong moment without the right planning," noting Iran is fighting an existential, nationalist battle with a higher pain threshold while the US measures every soldier lost. Paul Musgrave of Georgetown University in Qatar said Tehran has demonstrated it can deal pain by keeping the Strait closed, forcing Gulf states to reconsider reliance on Washington. Both analysts agreed Gulf states may move toward a more collective, NATO-style defensive alliance involving European partners, as public hostility masks quiet diplomatic optimism. Shaikh warned of catastrophe if the Strait remains choked or the Houthis enter the fray, arguing the focus must be on ending the conflict rather than assembling coalitions. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Iran #DonaldTrump #StraitOfHormuz #IRGC #IranWar #USIsraelWarOnIran #IranGulfAttacks #IranMissiles #GlobalOilCrisis #OperationEpicFury #OperationTruePromise4