Trump criticizes NATO over Iran, says allies made a “foolishmistake” by refusingStrait of Hormuz help
By Amal Toukebri strategic Research and Studies Department 09-07-2026
President Donald Trump on Tuesday publiclychastised NATO allies for refusing to assist the United States in securing the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoingwarwith Iran, callingtheir stance a “foolishmistake” even as hemaintainedthat the U.S. does not needallied help.
Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Irish Prime MinisterMicheál Martin, Mr. Trumpsaidhehadasked NATO members to send mine-sweeping and escortvessels to protect commercial shipping through the strategically vital waterway, where disruptions from the conflict have put upward pressure on global oilprices. According to the president, most allies declined to becomeinvolved.
“Wedon’tneedany help,” Trumpsaid. “But theyshould’ve been there.” He described the reluctance of some NATO countries to deployvessels to the Gulf as “not a big deal,” whilealsocalling the refusal “unfair” to the United States. The presidentsaidseveral countries hadtoldhimtheydid not want to beinvolvedbecausetheyview the conflict as illegal. He addedthatsome nations hadoffered to escortships but did not publiclyidentifywhichones.
Trumpframedhiscomments as a test of alliedcommitments. “I wastesting people, I wastesting to seewhether or not they’dbethere,” hetold reporters, arguingthat the United States has long supporteditspartners but questionedwhethertheywouldreciprocate in a major crisis. He namedItaly, Germany and France as countries thatturned down hisrequests.
The remarks came as NATO leaders gather for a summit in Ankara, where Mr. Trump met TurkishPresidentRecepTayyipErdoğan in a high-profile arrivalmarked by ceremonialpomp. The summit agenda isexpected to coverseveralcontentious items, including Mr. Trump’s push for NATO members to increasedefensespending, ongoing support for Ukraine againstRussia, and the U.S. conflictwith Iran — an issue of particular importance to neighboringTurkey.
NATO allies have privatelyexpressedconcernthat Mr. Trump’srepeatedcriticisms — and hisinsistencethathedoes not requiretheir help even as helambastesthem for refusingit — riskdeepening divisions within the alliance. Diplomatssay the question of whether to commit assets to the Gulf iscomplicated by legal and politicalconsiderations, withseveralEuropeangovernmentswary of beingdrawnintohostilitiestheyjudge to bedisproportionate or unlawful.
Mr. Trump’svisit to Ankara follows a string of strained exchanges withEuropean leaders. The presidentalso faces a potentiallyawkward meeting withItalian Prime MinisterGiorgiaMeloni at the summit, after Mr. Trumpsaid last monththatshehad “begged” for a photo withhim — a claim Melonidenied.
The White House has not provided a public list of countries thatofferedoperational help in the Strait of Hormuz. Officialssay the administration isweighing multiple options to safeguard maritime traffic and U.S. forces in the region.
