Ret. Gen. Joseph Votel says "it's hard to make that connection" between NATO and Strait of Hormuz

Retired General Joseph Votel, former commander of U.S. Central Command, has expressed skepticism about linking NATO's mission to security operations in the Strait of Hormuz, saying "it's hard to make that connection." President Trump has called on NATO countries to assist with protecting shipping through the strategic waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and handles roughly one-third of global maritime oil trade. NATO allies have so far rejected the president's request, citing the organization's focus on Euro-Atlantic security rather than Middle Eastern operations. Votel's comments reflect broader pushback from both military experts and European officials who question whether a collective defense alliance designed for the North Atlantic should expand its mission to the Middle East. The disagreement underscores tensions between the Trump administration's security priorities and the traditional geographic scope of the transatlantic alliance.