Stakes in the Straits and Chips on the Table

About this episode

The episode discusses the geopolitical implications of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on American and allied strategies in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Strait of Hormuz isn't just about Iran. It's a stress test for American will, allied confidence, and the deterrence architecture holding the Indo-Pacific together. FDD's RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, fresh from a trip to Taiwan, and Craig Singleton, FDD China Program Senior Director, join Cliff May to connect the dots — from the naval blockade's economic pressure to the lessons Beijing and Taipei are both drawing, in real time, from the Iran war.

People in this episode

Host: Cliff May

Guests: Mark Montgomery, Craig Singleton

Topics covered

• Iran
• Taiwan
• Indo-Pacific
• deterrence
• naval blockade
• economic pressure

Keywords

• Strait of Hormuz
• Iran
• Taiwan
• Indo-Pacific
• naval blockade
• economic pressure
• deterrence

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FDD

Places: Taiwan, Strait of Hormuz, Indo-Pacific

More episodes of FDD's Foreign Podicy

• The Axis of Aggressors and Unraveling World Order · May 8, 2026 · 1h 14m
• The Fog of Ceasefire · April 24, 2026 · 59 min
• From Budapest to Beirut to Tehran: Perspectives from Across the Pond · April 17, 2026 · 51 min
• The New Sultanate · April 10, 2026 · 57 min
• Breaking China · April 3, 2026 · 44 min
• Back from the Front · March 28, 2026 · 60 min