Tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have exposed a widening divide between Washington and several of its traditional allies, as multiple nations have declined to commit naval forces to a proposed coalition aimed at securing the critical shipping route. The reluctance has not only raised questions about alliance cohesion, but has also intensified scrutiny of America’s own military posture in the region. For decades, the United States has maintained that it possesses the most powerful navy in the world, supported by its fleet of aircraft carriers, destroyers, and advanced maritime ca