Middle East Crisis Reactions

Analysis: Trump's oil policy makes the US more powerful – and isolated

Donald Trump's reshaping of the US role in the new world order for security and trade now also applies to oil, writes Wall Street Journal chief commentator Greg Ip. The US no longer sees itself as a guarantor of stability, but rather as a self-interested actor using oil to strengthen its power.

But even as US control over oil increases, economic realities limit the geopolitical benefits. Europe has traded Russian natural gas for American gas because of past reliability. "If that relationship becomes politicized, they will look for alternatives," writes Ip.

Donald Trump does not want to admit his strategic defeat against Iran, writes Bloomberg's Andreas Kluth.

US allies among the Gulf states will not rely on American security guarantees again and now want to strengthen ties with China and other major powers. European allies who did not want to participate in the war also fear that an embittered Trump will leave NATO, he continues.

And even if Trump seems ready to throw in the towel, his opponent could put a damper on things. “And the president, who is so eager to declare another victory, seems to be aware of that,” Kluth writes.

Hezbollah claims to have attacked Israeli ship

Hezbollah claims to have attacked an Israeli warship with a cruise missile, AFP reports. If so, it would be the first attack of its kind since the US and Israel began the war against Iran.

According to Hezbollah’s statement, the ship was on its way to attack Lebanese territory. AFP writes that Israeli ships have been used to attack Lebanon on several previous occasions.

At the same time, the Israeli Air Force writes on X that it has attacked over 2,000 targets in southern Lebanon since the campaign began.