Trump warns NATO to help secure Strait of Hormuz or face ‘very dire future’ – National
US President Donald Trump has warned NATO allies of “very serious” consequences if the military alliance – which includes Canada – does not help him secure the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran since the start of the war, in a newspaper interview published on Sunday.
“It’s only fair that the people who benefit from the Strait will help make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump told the Financial Times.
“If there is no response or a negative response I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”
The US has been hitting Iran “hard,” Trump said.
“They have nothing left but to make a little trouble in the Strait … these people are profiting and we should help police,” he said, adding that “China should help,” citing China’s energy dependence on oil from the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran successfully closed the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran more than two weeks ago, starting a continuing wave of Iranian strikes across the Middle East and neighboring Gulf regions.
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About a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas liquids usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman.
Trump also warned Washington that it may launch more strikes on Kharg Island, which is a major hub for exporting oil to Iran, and said that the US military could target the oil infrastructure if needed.
“We can beat that in five minutes,” he said. “And there’s nothing they can do about it.”
Trump also criticized Britain’s response after speaking to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“The UK could be considered the first ally … and when I asked them to come, they didn’t want to come,” Trump told the Financial Times, adding that Britain had promised to send ships after the US had already reduced its military power in Iran.
Both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Defense Minister David McGuinty have said Canada has no intention of participating in US-led military operations in Iran.
“Canada has not been involved in, has not participated in, and has no plans to participate in actions against Iran by the US and Israel,” the PMO read last week.
Carney had previously said the question of Canada’s possible future involvement was “a basic idea,” adding that the conflict could spread widely.
“One will never refuse to participate,” he said during his trip to Australia earlier this month.
– With files from Reuters
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