President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies on Friday for refusing to take part in what he described as a U.S.-Israel military effort against Iran, calling the alliance ineffective without American participation and labeling allied governments "cowards." The comments were posted on Truth Social.
In his post, Trump wrote: "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. So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!"
Separately, a group of U.S. partners including Germany, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada released a joint statement on Thursday committing to participate in efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement did not indicate a willingness to take part in combat operations.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that securing passage through the Strait would require an end to active combat operations. His comment linked the task of guaranteeing maritime safety to a cessation of hostilities rather than to immediate military escalation.
At an EU summit in Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron said that defending international law and seeking de-escalation were the appropriate responses. Macron added that no leaders at the summit indicated a readiness to enter the conflict.
Context and implications
The public exchange highlights a division between the United States and several allied governments over direct participation in operations tied to the Strait of Hormuz. While some allies pledged to help secure maritime transit, their statements tied that support to conditions that fall short of joining active combat.
The debate centers around the Strait of Hormuz and its link, as framed by the U.S. president, to elevated oil prices. Trump framed the maneuver to "open the Strait of Hormuz" as operationally straightforward and low risk for allies, a characterization that those governments did not endorse in their public statements.
Official statements cited
- Trump's post on Truth Social labeling NATO a "paper tiger" without U.S. involvement and calling allies "cowards."
- A joint pledge by Germany, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada to assist in ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, issued on Thursday.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's remark that ensuring safe passage would require an end to combat operations.
- French President Emmanuel Macron's comments after the EU summit advocating for international law and de-escalation and noting that no summit participants volunteered to enter the conflict.