Trump Warns NATO Allies: Help Reopen Strait of Hormuz or Face “Very Bad” Future
Trump warns NATO and allies of serious consequences if they fail to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to NATO allies, saying the alliance could face a “very bad” future if member countries do not assist the United States in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint disrupted amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump stressed that nations benefiting from the waterway, including European countries and China, should contribute to efforts to keep it open. “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he said. “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”
Trump called for practical military assistance from allies, including minesweepers and forces capable of countering threats from drones and naval mines along the Iranian coast. He described the effort as a “team effort” and urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to participate. Approximately one-fifth of global oil shipments pass through the strait.
Also Read: Iran Assures Safe Passage For Indian Ships Through Strait of Hormuz
The president also indicated that his planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month could be postponed if Beijing does not act sooner to help reopen the waterway. “I think China should help too because China gets 90 percent of its oil from the Straits,” Trump said, adding that waiting until the summit would be too late.
Trump expressed frustration with the United Kingdom’s response after discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “The UK might be considered the number one ally… and when I asked for them to come, they didn’t want to come,” he said, noting that support offered later was “after we win.”
Meanwhile, Trump warned that the US could launch additional strikes on Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil export hub, claiming that Washington had already damaged parts of the facility. “We can hit that in five minutes,” he said, highlighting the escalating tensions in the Gulf and the potential for a broader international response.
Also Read: Nitish Kumar Consults Deputy CMs on Future Political Strategy in Bihar
