President Donald Trump delivered a blunt message to America’s NATO partners this weekend: step up and help secure the vital Strait of Hormuz against Iran or face serious consequences for the future of the alliance.
During an interview with the Financial Times, Trump warned that NATO’s future could be in jeopardy if European allies refuse to support the U.S.-led mission aimed at reopening the critical oil shipping route, which Iran has effectively threatened to close amid the escalating Middle East conflict.
“If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response,” Trump said, “I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”
The president’s warning comes as the United States pushes for a multinational coalition to patrol and secure the Strait of Hormuz.
It can be recalled on Saturday that President Trump asked several countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy, including European powers and Asian allies, to send warships, minesweepers, or air-defense assets to protect commercial shipping from Iranian threats.
Trump wrote on Truth Social:
Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.
We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.
Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.
In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!
But so far, many allies have been slow to commit.
Trump has long blasted NATO nations for relying on American military power while failing to contribute their fair share to global security. The Iran crisis appears to have reignited that frustration.
More from FT:
Despite his warning, Trump was pessimistic that US allies would heed his pleas for help.
“We have a thing called Nato,” said Trump, who has often criticised the alliance. “We’ve been very sweet. We didn’t have to help them with Ukraine.
Ukraine is thousands of miles away from us… But we helped them. Now we’ll see if they help us. Because I’ve long said that we’ll be there for them but they won’t be there for us. And I’m not sure that they’d be there.”
Asked to specify the help he needed, Trump said “whatever it takes”. He added that allies should send minesweepers, of which Europe possesses many more than the US.
He also wanted “people who are going to knock out some bad actors that are along the [Iranian] shore”. Trump implied he wanted European commando teams or other military help to eliminate Iranians making “a nuisance” in the Gulf with drones and naval mines.
“We’re hitting them very hard,” Trump said. “They’ve got nothing left but to make a little trouble in the Strait but these people are beneficiaries and they ought to help us police it. We’ll help them. But they should also be there. You sort of need a lot of people to watch over a few.”
Trump isn’t just calling out NATO.
The president is also pressuring China, which relies heavily on Gulf oil shipments, to help reopen the strait, even hinting he could delay a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping if Beijing refuses to assist.
“I think China should help too because China gets 90 per cent of its oil from the Straits [sic],” Trump told FT.
“We’d like to know before that. It’s [two weeks is] a long time.” Trump said, adding that his planned trip to China could also be pushed back. “We may delay,” Trump said.
Aboard Air Force One, President Trump doubled down on his warning to U.S. allies.
“Whether we get support or not, but I can say this, I said it to them, WE WILL REMEMBER.”
WATCH:
BREAKING
: President Trump just DROPPED THE HAMMER on NATO and our so-called “allies” over the Strait of Hormuz!
He told them straight: “If you don’t step up to help secure it… I WILL REMEMBER.”
“Whether we get support or NOT — America handles business.”
No more free… pic.twitter.com/k4B0trNBYb
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) March 16, 2026
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