He has threatened to cut off arms supplies to Ukraine in order to pressure European allies to join an “alliance of the willing” to reopen the , according to people briefed on the discussions, as explained by the .
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since , following the US and Israeli attack on Tehran in late February, blocking the passage of a fifth of the world’s oil that normally passes through it.
The US president asked NATO navies to help him reopen the narrow sea route last month, but was rebuffed by European capitals, which said that would be impossible as long as the conflict continued, with several also pointing out that it was “not our war”.
Trump’s threats
Three officials with knowledge of the discussions said Donald Trump responded by threatening to halt supplies to PURL, the NATO arms supply initiative for Ukraine funded by European countries.
As a result, and at the urging of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, a group of countries, including key alliance members such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom, issued a hastily agreed statement on March 19 that said: “We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Straits [του Ορμούζ]».
Rutte’s role
One of the officials briefed on the discussions said: “It was Rutte who insisted on the joint statement because Trump had threatened to withdraw from PURL and from Ukraine in general.” He added that: “The declaration was then drawn up quickly, and other countries joined afterwards, because there was not enough time to invite everyone to sign it immediately.”
Mark Rutte engaged in multiple phone conversations with Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio two days before issuing the statement, two officials said.
Another official said the NATO secretary general, in a phone call with France, Germany and the United Kingdom, explained that the US president was “quite hysterical” over the Europeans’ refusal to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
British officials insisted that the UK and the US were discussing on a “military basis” options to secure the Straits before March 19, while not denying that Washington had threatened to withdraw its support for Ukraine if NATO countries did not take action.
The Trump disappointment
Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly said: “President Trump has made clear his frustration with NATO and other allies, and as the President emphasized, ‘the United States will remember that.'”
The US president has repeatedly expressed frustration with European allies for not doing more to help the US war on Iran, while portraying the conflict in Ukraine as Europe’s problem.
“We are there to protect NATO, to protect them from Russia. But they are not there to protect us. It’s ridiculous,” he said during a cabinet meeting last week.
Will the US leave NATO?
Trump told Reuters he planned to announce in an evening address to the American public on Wednesday night that .
A NATO official said the Alliance does not comment on the content of the NATO secretary general’s phone conversations with other leaders and referred the FT to a public statement he had made on March 19.
In response to a question about Donald Trump’s annoyance with NATO allies over the Strait of Hormuz, Mark Rutte said: “I am sure that the allies, as always, will do everything to support our common interests.” More countries have signed the joint statement since its launch on March 19.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened “after hostilities cease”.
The pressures on Ukraine
US-Israeli operations against Iran have intensified global competition for the PAC-3 interceptor missiles used in Patriot air defense systems and used by Gulf states to defend against Iranian attacks. Interceptors are also a vital part of Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian missiles.
Marco Rubio said Friday that US military supplies to Ukraine through the PURL mechanism have not been affected by the war in the Middle East. “Nothing has been transferred yet,” he added.
However, the US Secretary of State did not rule out the possibility that the US may in the future seek to redirect weapons destined for Ukraine, in order to replenish US stockpiles that have been depleted in the war against Iran.
“If we need something for America and it’s American, we’ll keep it for America first,” he said.
