The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has not failed in the Iran war because it is confused. It has failed because, when American power is tested outside Europe, the alliance no longer behaves like an allied military bloc. Washington faced a conflict tied to deterrence, maritime security, and the security of one of the most important energy chokepoints on earth. Most of NATO did not rally behind the state that underwrites its defense. It stalled, hedged, and hid behind procedure. Thus, the Iran war has not exposed a passing disagreement. It has exposed the real structure of the alliance: America carries the weight, and much of Europe reserves the right to step aside.

That matters because the Strait of Hormuz is not a side theater. The U.S. Energy Information Administration describes it as one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints. In 2025, roughly 20 million barrels per day moved through it, equal to about 20 percent of global petroleum liquids consumption, and major volumes of liquefied natural gas also passed........

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