Trump blasts 'foolish' Nato over Iran after allies rebuff call for help on Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday sharply criticised Nato as "foolish" over the Iran standoff, asserting that the United States does not need assistance from its allies after they largely rejected his calls to join efforts aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters while hosting Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in the Oval Office, Trump said that most US allies had turned down his push for them to escort ships through the strategically vital waterway.

"I think Nato is making a very foolish mistake," Trump said. "I've long said that I wonder whether or not Nato would ever be there for us. So this was a great test."

French President Emmanuel Macron was among those who explicitly declined the proposal, stating that France would "never" participate in such an effort until the situation was calmer.

Trump insists US ready to act alone

Despite the rebuff from allied nations, Trump insisted that Washington was fully prepared to proceed without support in confronting Iran. He maintained that even Nato allies acknowledged that Tehran needed to be confronted over its nuclear programme, even if they were unwilling to contribute militarily to the Hormuz effort.

"We don't need too much help. We don't need any help," Trump declared.

Minutes before the Oval Office meeting, Trump had taken to his Truth Social platform with a lengthy post in which he stated that US forces "no longer need" assistance in the matter.

Strait of Hormuz tensions

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass. The waterway has been at the centre of escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, with Trump pushing for an international coalition to ensure the free passage of commercial vessels through the strait.

The refusal by key Nato members to join the US-led initiative marks a notable point of friction within the Western alliance, with Trump framing the episode as a test of Nato's reliability as a partner to Washington.

Trump's remarks came as part of a broader pattern of the US president questioning the value and commitment of the transatlantic military alliance, which he has long criticised for what he perceives as insufficient burden-sharing by European member states.