[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

--- "Why would the U.S. even care? These aren't American cargo ships."

One observes what is missing from the article, which mentions the"Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and -operated container ship."

What was being shipped, from what country and to what country. Uncle Sucker is picking up a large part of the expense, but what country's "shipped goods" is protected by US military assets?

All the talk about "collective action" is obfuscation, when the US is doing the actual confrontation with air resources.

[kabar]

Underscored by its geographical location, the U.S. relies heavily on ships to secure the trade flows between itself and its partners. Nearly 69 percent of all the goods traded by the U.S. are transported via waterways, predominantly by seagoing vessels.

https://media.defense.gov/2018/Oct/05/2002049100/-1/-1/1/USCG%20MARITIME%20COMMERCE%20STRATEGIC%20OUTLOOK-RELEASABLE.PDF

The MTS supports $4.6 trillion of economic activity each year and accounts for the employment of more than 23 million Americans.

[Ikeon]

Do we really want china to project i to the red sea to protect chinese goods?

Think about it.. if the U.S. doesnt protect these container ships someone else will step in to do it. Better to pay the bill than let someone else do business in your place.

[Alberta's Child]

That’s exactly right. I haven’t even started reading the rest of the thread after your post, but I’m certain it will be littered with globalist slop.