- Vance privately challenged strike timing over oil price risks
- 3% of American maritime commerce vs 40% EU shipping at stake
- White House denies policy split amid leaked chat fallout
New revelations from The Atlantic expose rare friction between Vice President JD Vance and President Trump regarding January's controversial Houthi militant strikes. Internal Signal communications show Vance warning that immediate military action contradicted Trump's Europe Firstfiscal rhetoric, particularly given the Suez Canal's disproportionate importance to EU trade. The Vice President raised concerns about public perception, noting only 3% of American maritime commerce transits the strategic waterway compared to 40% of EU shipping traffic.
Geopolitical analysts highlight how this incident reflects broader tensions in transatlantic defense cost-sharing. The Houthi strikes represent a textbook case of global public good provision,explains Middle East policy expert Dr. Lina al-Karim. Vance's hesitation underscores growing Republican resistance to subsidizing European security interests.Regional stability calculations further complicated the decision, with the Red Sea corridor impacting 12% of daily global oil shipments.
White House officials quickly dismissed reports of division, emphasizing Vance's ultimate concurrence with Defense Secretary Hegseth. Communications director William Martin stated the leaders held subsequent conversationsachieving full alignment. This damage control follows Vance's March confrontation with Ukraine's Zelenskyy, where he publicly demanded gratitude for U.S. support - a performance cementing his reputation as Trump's unwavering surrogate.
Historical context reveals this as Vance's third policy deviation since taking office, including his 2024 abortion ban comments. Insiders note the Vice President now meticulously coordinates messaging through Chief of Staff John Marsh, implementing rigorous pre-briefing protocols. JD understands his role as implementer, not ideologue,remarks former NSC staffer Roger Jenkins. His value lies in operationalizing Trump's vision, not shaping it.
The administration continues framing the Yemen strikes as strategic signaling rather than European bailout. Energy market analysts confirm Vance's oil price fears materialized temporarily, with Brent crude jumping 8.2% post-operation before stabilizing. This volatility highlights the complex calculus of Middle Eastern military interventions, particularly with 2026 midterms approaching.