Trump Tells NATO to 'Stay Away' from Strait of Hormuz: 'Useless When We Needed Them'
Trump vs. NATO: The President rejects a late offer of naval support in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing allies of being “useless when needed.” Inside the latest “America First” clash over global oil security and burden-sharing.
President Donald Trump sharply rejected an offer of help from NATO to secure the Strait of Hormuz, telling the alliance to “stay away” now that the crisis has largely passed.
In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump wrote: “Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!”
The comments came shortly after Iran announced the reopening of the strategic waterway for commercial vessels, following U.S. and Israeli military actions that pressured Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, with roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passing through it.
Trump has long criticized NATO allies for insufficient defense spending and reluctance to share burdens in operations outside Europe. He argued that help from NATO would have been welcome “two months ago” during the height of tensions, but is not needed now that the heavy lifting, including securing shipping lanes and confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, has been done primarily by the United States.
Speaking at a rally, Trump added that it was “too bad” he didn’t have NATO support earlier, but emphasized: “We never needed them. They needed us.”
European leaders, including those from the UK and France, had discussed contributing naval assets to protect shipping in the strait once conditions stabilized. However, Trump’s blunt response signals he has no interest in allied involvement at this stage.
The episode highlights ongoing tensions over burden-sharing within NATO. Trump has repeatedly accused allies of free-riding on U.S. military power while benefiting from secure global trade routes, particularly energy supplies to Europe.
As of Saturday, oil prices have eased following the news that the strait is reopening, though the U.S. maintains restrictions related to Iran.
This latest flare-up fits Trump’s “America First” approach, prioritizing U.S. interests and demanding real reciprocity from allies rather than symbolic gestures after the danger has passed.