Source: Fortune
Summary
President Trump’s strategy of applying pressure to achieve his goals has been put to the test in the conflict with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. Despite his efforts to negotiate a deal, Iran has refused to back down, and the strait remains closed, affecting global oil supplies and prices. Trump’s usual tactics of threatening and coercing others have not worked, and he is facing criticism for his handling of the situation. The economic consequences of the conflict are becoming increasingly severe, with the International Energy Agency releasing emergency oil reserves and Goldman Sachs revising its inflation forecast upward.
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The numbers tell one story.
Trump’s deal-making skills, honed over decades, have met their match in the Strait of Hormuz. He has tried to apply pressure, but Iran has refused to budge. The strait remains closed, and the economic consequences are mounting. Trump’s strategy of making someone else pay has not worked, and he is facing a situation where he cannot renegotiate his way out. The Strait of Hormuz is a physical reality that cannot be bullied or coerced.
The adversary that won’t blink has exposed the limits of Trump’s brand of coercion.
Author: Evan Null
