El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, anunció que el país ofrecerá garantías de seguro e incluso escoltas navales para asegurar el paso seguro de petroleros y otras embarcaciones a través del estrecho de Ormuz, con el objetivo de evitar una posible crisis energética derivada de la guerra con Irán. Trump comunicó el martes que la US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) ofrecerá seguros “a un precio muy razonable” para facilitar el flujo de energía y comercio en el Golfo, y que la Marina estadounidense escoltará buques si resulta necesario.

“No importa qué suceda, Estados Unidos garantizará el FLUJO LIBRE de ENERGÍA para el MUNDO”, publicó Trump en redes sociales. El anuncio tuvo impacto inmediato en los mercados: el precio del Brent, referencia internacional del petróleo, se estabilizó en torno a 80 dólares el barril tras una jornada de volatilidad.

La decisión surge después de que los ataques de Estados Unidos e Israel contra Irán interrumpieran el tráfico de crudo por el estrecho de Ormuz, ruta por la que transita una quinta parte del suministro energético mundial. El conflicto provocó que los principales clubes de seguro marítimo retiraran la cobertura por riesgos de guerra para barcos que ingresen al Golfo Pérsico, incrementando drásticamente los costos para los armadores que buscan otras alternativas de cobertura.

El gobierno estadounidense busca frenar la escalada de precios del petróleo resultante del cierre virtual del estrecho, considerado un corredor estratégico para el transporte de crudo. Un aumento sostenido en los precios de los combustibles podría convertirse en un riesgo político para Trump de cara a las elecciones legislativas de noviembre.

El secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio, declaró a la prensa que la administración había previsto el encarecimiento de la energía y anticipó que el secretario del Tesoro, Scott Bessent, y el secretario de Energía, Chris Wright, anunciarán un programa de contención de precios. Trump tenía previsto reunirse con ambos funcionarios en la Casa Blanca el mismo martes para abordar el tema.

El seguro político de la DFC está diseñado para cubrir pérdidas derivadas de guerras, violencia o inestabilidad política, aunque el presidente no especificó los detalles del mecanismo. Se informó que la medida busca sostener el comercio y reducir la incertidumbre para los operadores marítimos, en un contexto donde los precios del petróleo han sufrido aumentos abruptos por las hostilidades en Oriente Medio y la interrupción de una de las rutas más vitales para el suministro energético global.

Emmanuel Macron solicitó este martes la creación de una coalición internacional para proteger las vías marítimas esenciales, tras el aumento de tensiones en Oriente Medio que amenazan el tráfico por el estrecho de Ormuz. La decisión llegó después de que Estados Unidos e Israel atacaran objetivos en Irán, acción que el mandatario francés desaprobó por haberse realizado fuera del marco del derecho internacional, aunque señaló a Teherán como responsable final de la situación debido a su programa militar y respaldo a milicias en la región.

Durante un discurso televisado, el presidente de Francia advirtió sobre la gravedad de la crisis surgida en el estrecho de Ormuz, por donde circula el 20% del petróleo mundial. Macron enfatizó que tanto el Canal de Suez como el mar Rojo se encuentran igualmente bajo amenaza. En palabras del mandatario: “La historia nunca llora a los verdugos de sus pueblos. No se echará de menos a ninguno”.

El aumento de la tensión en el estrecho de Ormuz ha suscitado preocupación internacional por las posibles repercusiones en el suministro energético global. Macron explicó que Francia ha lanzado una iniciativa para conformar una coalición que reúna medios, incluidos recursos militares, con el objetivo de restaurar y mantener la seguridad en las rutas marítimas clave para la economía mundial. Al mismo tiempo, anunció un refuerzo del dispositivo militar francés en la zona, para contribuir a la protección de estas arterias estratégicas.

La propuesta de Macron surge en un contexto de creciente hostilidad entre Irán, Estados Unidos e Israel, donde los recientes acontecimientos han incrementado el riesgo de incidentes que puedan afectar la estabilidad del transporte marítimo en una región esencial para el comercio internacional.

(Con información de Bloomberg y EFE)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent reactions to law enforcement, which some have interpreted as pushing back against the New York Police Department, likely won’t hurt him as much as previous mayors, a local crime expert told Fox News Digital, and could end up working to his overall political advantage. 

«It may not hurt Mamdani in the way that it might hurt another mayor,» Manhattan Institute Fellow Rafael Mangual. 

«I do think that Zohran Mamdani is okay with being an opponent and a critic of the NYPD. I think he comes from a sort of ideological perspective that does not believe that the NYPD actually reduces crime. So, if the NYPD pulls back and crime goes up, I think he will see that as an opportunity to further criticize the NYPD and point to reasons why it should be defunded in favor of this Department of Community Safety and some of these other proposals that he would much rather invest in.»

Two significant events in the city indicate that the mayor will not defend the police department, according to Mangual, and could result in cops pulling back due to lack of support. They include an incident last month in Washington Square Park, dubbed «Snowballgate,» where a mob of roughly 100 people pelted NYPD officers with snowballs, leaving two officers injured. 

Rather than condemning the assault, Mamdani appeared to downplay the violence, referring to the perpetrators as «kids» taking part in a snowball fight. 

«Mamdani did not come out in support of the NYPD in that incident. Instead, he seemed to kind of brush it off and even refused to call for the prosecution of the perpetrators,» Mangual said, adding that the actions of the mob clearly qualified as an assault against police officers. 

«Unfortunately, I think the mayor’s response was found wanting. He seemed unwilling to condemn it as an assault. He seemed unwilling to even say that it was something that shouldn’t be done in the future, and I think that is going to create a sense in the NYPD that this administration does not have their back.»

Perhaps more concerning, according to Mangual, was Mamdani’s reaction to a recent officer-involved shooting in Queens where, despite bodycam footage showing an officer being immediately attacked with a deadly weapon after entering a home at the owner’s invitation, Mamdani called on the district attorney to not prosecute the knife wielding suspect who was reportedly having a mental health episode. 

CITY-RUN BOARD CANCELS LEASE OF ISRAEL DRONE SUPPLIER, SPARKING BACKLASH TOWARD MAMDANI: ‘LUDICROUS’

Additionally, Mamdani visited the attacker and his family after the incident.

«For Mayor Mamdani to come out and not just meet with the family as if this individual is some sort of crime victim, but to also make an open call to the Queens DA not to prosecute the individual for the obvious and clear assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, I think is just completely irresponsible,» Mangual said. 

«But it also will reinforce that sense in the NYPD that I think is already existing: that this administration is an opponent, not a partner. And if that dynamic continues and it reaches further down into the rank and file, I do think that the city is going to see a more reluctant police force at a time in which it needs it to be proactive.»

As a candidate, Mamdani attempted to distance himself from previous support of police defunding but faced backlash last month when he announced that part of his plan to balance the budget involves cutting the NYPD’s budget and canceling 5K new officer hires.

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In front of a painting of Alexander Hamilton, Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters about the city’s finances during a news conference in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

«I think what we’ve seen in the early days of this administration is that Mamdani is not yet willing to position himself as an open partner of the NYPD,» Mangual said. «He is still trying to make a decision about whether he is going to lean into his more natural identity of an opponent of the NYPD.»

The NYPD is «between a rock and a hard place» under Mamdani, Mangual said, adding that officers will be «less likely to put their lives on the line for a city that they do not feel has their back.»

«He’d be perfectly happy with a world in which he can say, ‘Look, the NYPD is a failure, it’s not keeping crime down, it’s time to try other approaches,’» Mangual said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment. 

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday that the United Kingdom is sending a warship and two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters to Cyprus after an Iranian drone hit the British Royal Air Force (RAF) base of Akrotiri Monday morning on the east Mediterranean island.

In a social media post, Starmer said he spoke with the president of Cyprus, and the U.K. is deploying helicopters with counter-drone capabilities and the air-defense destroyer HMS Dragon to the region.

«The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there,» he wrote in the post. «We’re continuing our defensive operations… We will always act in the interest of the UK and our allies.»

The strike, which came days after Starmer reaffirmed his country was not involved in the conflict, hit a runway at the air base just after midnight Monday morning.

While there were no injuries, minor damage was reported.

British Defense Secretary John Healey said the country is «moving quickly» to further reinforce its defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

«HMS Dragon brings world-class air defence capability, and our Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the growing drone threat,» Healey wrote in a statement. «I am deeply proud of the professionalism and bravery of our Armed Forces personnel who have, in recent days, successfully taken action across the region to protect our allies and defend British interests.»

The HMS Dragon, a type 45 destroyer, will strengthen the U.K.’s ability to detect, track and destroy aerial threats — including drones.

The ship is fitted with the world-leading Sea Viper missile system, which can launch eight missiles in under ten seconds and guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously. 

The deployment comes as the British armed forces successfully shot down multiple drones across the region over the last 24 hours.

RAF F-35B jets shot down drones over Jordan — the first time an RAF F-35 has destroyed a target on operations — supported by Typhoon jets and a Voyager tanker aircraft. 

A British counter-drone unit neutralized drones in Iraqi airspace heading towards Coalition forces, while an RAF Typhoon operating with the joint UK-Qatar 12 Squadron shot down an Iranian one-way attack drone directed at Qatar using an air-to-air missile on Monday.

Police officers stand guard outside RAF Akrotiri base on Jan. 14, 2024, near Limassol, Cyprus. An Iranian-made drone hit the base on Monday, March 2, 2026, causing minimal damage and no injuries amid heightened tensions. (Iakovos Hatzistavrou/AFP via Getty Images)

Prior to the strike in Cyprus, Starmer released a video explaining that Iran launched sustained attacks across the region, on countries that did not attack them. 

«They’ve hit airports and hotels where British citizens are staying. This is clearly a dangerous situation,» Starmer said. «We have at least 200,000 British citizens in the region. Residents, families on holiday and those in transit. I ask all our people in the region to please register your presence. And follow foreign office travel advice. I know this is a deeply worrying time, and we will continue to do all we can to support you.»

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He added that the British Armed Forces are also «at risk,» noting Iran hit a military base Saturday in Bahrain, «narrowly missing British personnel.» 

«The death of the supreme leader will not stop Iran from launching these strikes,» Starmer said. «Their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians. Our decision that the UK would not be involved with the strikes on Iran was deliberate. Not least because we believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world is a negotiated settlement — one in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon — but Iran is striking British interests nonetheless, and putting British people at huge risk, along with our allies across the region. That is the situation we face today.»

He said partners in the Gulf asked them to «do more» to defend them, prompting a decision to allow the U.S. to use British air bases for targeted strikes against Iranian missile launchers and storage depots.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer amped up the military presence in Cyprus following an Iranian drone strike early Monday. (Kin Cheung / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

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«We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations, which have already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes. But the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source — in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles,» Starmer said. «The basis of our decision is the collective self-defense of long-standing friends and allies, and protecting British lives… We are not joining these strikes, but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region.»

«I want to be very clear: We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons,» he continued. «We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran, and we will not join offensive action now. But Iran is pursuing a scorched earth strategy. So we are supporting the collective self-defense of our allies and our people in the region because that is our duty to the British people. It is the best way to eliminate the urgent threat and prevent the situation spiraling further. This is the British government protecting British interests and British lives.»

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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