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In a fresh shift on the West Asia war, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned "non‑responsive" allies that he could "finish off" Iran and abandon from the Strait of Hormuz, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Trump said that American allies would rush to the defence of the Strait in that case.
"I wonder what would happen if we 'finished off' what’s left of the Iranian terror state, and let the countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called 'Strait'? That would get some of our non-responsive 'allies' in gear, and fast! President DJT" Trump said on Truth Social.
The post is the latest remark from Trump about Nato allies, whom he has been trashing for not deploying their militaries to defend the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has come under pressure domestically and internationally for the war-induced closure of the Strait, which has led to oil prices rising by 65 per cent. Instead of deploying the US and Israeli military to protect the Strait in a war that he launched, he has called upon other countries, such as Nato allies, to send warships.
Due to the Strait's closure and production cuts announced by West Asian oil producers, oil has surged to a high of $119 from pre-war $72 a barrel. While oil has fallen from the high of $119, it continued to trade at $108 at press time.
Trump has previously alternated between dismissing Nato's need and relevance and demanding its help reopening the Strait.
Trump initially trashed British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for not allowing the US military to use British territories to launch attacks on Iran. Then, when the British government allowed the usage for defensive operations, Trump said the United States no longer needed such help even as the US military began using British bases.
Trump then went on to request British and other governments of allies to reopen the Strait. When they rebuffed him, he warned that Nato had a "very bad future" as allies would not accept his request. He then reverted to his initial stance that the United States did not need anyone's help.
Trump said that American allies would rush to the defence of the Strait in that case.
"I wonder what would happen if we 'finished off' what’s left of the Iranian terror state, and let the countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called 'Strait'? That would get some of our non-responsive 'allies' in gear, and fast! President DJT" Trump said on Truth Social.
The post is the latest remark from Trump about Nato allies, whom he has been trashing for not deploying their militaries to defend the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has come under pressure domestically and internationally for the war-induced closure of the Strait, which has led to oil prices rising by 65 per cent. Instead of deploying the US and Israeli military to protect the Strait in a war that he launched, he has called upon other countries, such as Nato allies, to send warships.
Due to the Strait's closure and production cuts announced by West Asian oil producers, oil has surged to a high of $119 from pre-war $72 a barrel. While oil has fallen from the high of $119, it continued to trade at $108 at press time.
Trump has previously alternated between dismissing Nato's need and relevance and demanding its help reopening the Strait.
Trump initially trashed British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for not allowing the US military to use British territories to launch attacks on Iran. Then, when the British government allowed the usage for defensive operations, Trump said the United States no longer needed such help even as the US military began using British bases.
Trump then went on to request British and other governments of allies to reopen the Strait. When they rebuffed him, he warned that Nato had a "very bad future" as allies would not accept his request. He then reverted to his initial stance that the United States did not need anyone's help.
