Victoria Coates discusses Strait of Hormuz, Iran strategy amid NATO uncertainty Victoria Coates, a former Trump deputy national security advisor, analyzes the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the role of NATO as Operation Epic Fury continues. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Exactly 23 years ago, I was a Marine headed to the Persian Gulf aboard the same ships now taking thousands of Marines towards Iran today. Many of us had questions about President Bush’s