United States President Donald Trump on Friday criticized NATO members for refusing to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing Israel-US conflict with Iran.
The Strait has effectively been closed due to Iran’s intermittent attacks on oil tankers and other vessels. Previously, about 20% of global seaborne crude oil traffic passed through this key waterway, and the disruption has pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump called NATO members “cowards and paper tigers” for not committing warships to help patrol the strategic channel.
“Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a nuclear-powered Iran,” Trump wrote.
“Now that the 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.
“So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!”