U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized members of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for declining to support efforts to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, insisting the United States can confront Iran without their assistance.
Speaking at the White House during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin on Tuesday, Trump said the alliance had failed an important test of loyalty.
“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.”
His remarks followed the refusal of several U.S. allies to join a proposed naval mission aimed at escorting ships through the waterway. French President Emmanuel Macron said France would “never” participate under the current circumstances, arguing that the situation in the region must first stabilize.
Despite the lack of support, Trump insisted that Washington was capable of acting independently.
“We don’t need too much help. We don’t need any help,” he said, adding in a social media post that the U.S. had achieved enough military success to no longer require NATO involvement.
The president also described the alliance as a “one-way street,” claiming that other partners such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea were unwilling to participate in the mission. He suggested that Washington’s relationship with NATO could be reconsidered, though he indicated there were no immediate plans for changes.
Trump also criticised individual leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whom he accused of not being supportive. He dismissed Macron’s position, claiming the French leader would soon leave office.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated after Iran targeted regional energy infrastructure and threatened oil tankers, disrupting one of the world’s most important shipping routes that handles a significant portion of global crude oil supply.
Trump offered mixed signals about the broader conflict, describing the situation as “just a military operation” while suggesting U.S. involvement could end soon, though he remained vague about long-term plans.
The growing tensions across the Middle East have contributed to rising global oil prices and increased pressure on U.S. allies to clarify their positions on the crisis.