An extended US blockade of waters around Iranian ports could burden US Navy’s operations around the world, a South Korean naval expert told CNN.
At least 15 US warships in the region could join the blockade, which began Monday, but enforcing it effectively would require more naval vessels and aircraft, said Yu Jihoon, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses and former South Korean submarine office.
“Blockade line control, identifying and searching of ships, aerial surveillance, deterrence of Iranian high-speed boats or missile threats, and response to mines must all function together,” Yu said.
An extended blockade, requiring a large group of ships and assisting assets, could place strain on the US Navy’s operations elsewhere in the world, he said.
“Given that the US Navy has already been dispersing its operations across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Europe, the longer the blockade lasts, the more burdensome it may be for other theater operations,” he said.
