Trump: “Without the USA, NATO is a paper tiger.”
U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized NATO allies on Friday, accusing them of failing to support the United States and Israel in their ongoing conflict with Iran. In a social media post, Trump described the alliance as weak without U.S. leadership, writing, “Without the U.S.A., NATO is a paper tiger.”
Trump has been urging allied nations—many of whom were neither consulted nor informed ahead of the military campaign—to assist in securing shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil corridor currently under Iranian control.
The conflict, which began with U.S.-Israel strikes on February 28, has destabilized global markets, led to thousands of deaths, and displaced millions. Despite these impacts, Trump expressed frustration that NATO countries have declined to join the military effort while continuing to raise concerns about rising oil prices.
He argued that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be a straightforward and low-risk military operation, claiming it is the primary factor behind high oil costs. “Now that fight is militarily won… they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay but don’t want to help,” Trump wrote. He concluded his remarks by calling the allies “cowards” and warning, “we will remember.”
Meanwhile, several major economies—including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada—issued a joint statement on Thursday pledging to support “appropriate efforts” to ensure safe passage through the strait. However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that such cooperation would depend on an end to active combat.
French President Emmanuel Macron also signaled reluctance among European leaders to escalate the conflict. Speaking after a European Union summit in Brussels, Macron said that upholding international law and promoting de-escalation remained the priority. “I have not heard anyone here express a willingness to enter this conflict — quite the opposite,” he said.
