NATO allies ‘cowards’: Trump

US President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Nato allies on Friday, labeling them as “cowards” for their refusal to join the US-led military campaign against Iran.
In a scathing Truth Social post, Trump dismissed the alliance as a “PAPER TIGER” without American support, criticising members for complaining about high oil prices while refusing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
“Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices… COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” said Trump.
Trump’s remarks came as several countries responded cautiously or declined his call to deploy warships to escort merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that carries roughly a fifth of global crude oil supply.
The standoff has unfolded as global oil prices have surged between 40% and 50% following Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and waves of missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, in retaliation for the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.
Trump also warned that the lack of support would be “very bad for the future of Nato”, telling the Financial Times that allied reluctance to join the effort could damage the bloc’s future.
However, in a joint statement on Thursday, leading European nations and Japan agreed to join “appropriate efforts” to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and said that they would take steps to stabilise energy markets. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan condemned the attacks by Iran in the statement and urged it to halt its actions immediately.
As the Iran war enters its 21st day, the strait remains effectively closed.
The war has led Tehran to retaliate with strikes across the Gulf region, with 23 commercial vessels, including 10 tankers, reporting having been attacked or incidents.