Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday called on NATO members to muster the courage to dispatch naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, once again criticizing the longstanding military alliance. When questioned about his omission of NATO in his recent address to the nation, Trump clarified that his speech was not intended for NATO but mentioned the strait and those absent. "They gotta get guts and go in and just send your ships up there and enjoy it," he remarked to Politico.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump was pressed on his level of frustration with the alliance, to which he responded: "I couldn't care less. I didn't need them." He further stated, "But if I ever did need them, they wouldn't be there." Historically, NATO has invoked Article 5, its collective defense clause, only once following the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. In response to Trump's recent actions and rhetoric, NATO allies have expressed disapproval regarding the initiation of the conflict with Iran without their consultation.
Trump's comments are part of a series of criticisms aimed at NATO concerning its handling of the Strait of Hormuz situation. He has previously labeled alliance members as "cowards" and, in an interview with The Telegraph, described NATO as a "paper tiger," dismissing the idea of leaving the alliance as "beyond reconsideration." However, any unilateral withdrawal from NATO by Trump would face significant legal challenges due to a 2023 law that requires a two-thirds majority in the US Senate for such an action.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint where approximately 20 million barrels of oil transit daily, has faced disruptions since early March. These disruptions are attributed to Iranian actions in retaliation for the US-Israeli offensive on Iran that commenced on February 28. Trump has consistently encouraged European allies and Gulf states to play a more proactive role in securing the strait, arguing that nations reliant on its oil should assume responsibility for its reopening.
In a related development, Trump is scheduled to meet with NATO chief Mark Rutte in Washington next week, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.