US President Donald Trump has threatened to stop arms supplies to Ukraine through the PURL initiative in order to pressure European allies to join the effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. People familiar with these discussions told the Financial Times (FT), writes TASR.
After the attacks by the US and Israel, Iran effectively closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for the transit of oil and gas. In March, Trump called on NATO partners to help ensure the opening of the strait. However, the European allies rejected it, saying that it would not be possible in the situation as the conflict is developing. The head of the White House therefore accused the allies of making a “stupid mistake”. In response, Trump threatened to cut off supplies to the PURL initiative, three officials told the FT. On its basis, partner countries buy American weapons for Ukraine. The initiative was launched last year under the auspices of NATO.
As a result, and also at the urging of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, a group of countries including Britain, France and Germany issued a statement on March 19 in which expressed readiness to “contribute to appropriate measures to ensure safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz.
One of the officials familiar with the situation claims that it was Rutte who insisted on the said joint statement, “because Trump threatened to withdraw from PURL and from Ukraine in general”. “The declaration was then quickly drafted and other countries joined later because there was not enough time to invite everyone to join immediately,” the official said, according to the FT.
The newspaper also reported that Rutte had several phone calls with Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio two days before issuing the statement, according to two officials. Another official said the NATO chief also held discussions with Britain, France and Germany, explaining to them that Trump was “pretty hysterical” about the Europeans’ rejection of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to British officials, Britain and the US discussed at the military level the possibility of securing the strait before issuing the mentioned statement. These officials did not deny that Washington had threatened to withdraw support for Ukraine in the event that NATO countries do not intervene, writes the FT.
According to Rubio, the war in the Middle East did not affect US military supplies to Ukraine through the PURL initiative. However, he did not rule out that the US could in the future redirect weapons intended for Kiev to replenish US stocks depleted in the war against the Islamic Republic. “President Trump expressed his disappointment with NATO and other allies, and as he emphasized, the United States will remember that.” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly.
Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for not doing more to help the US in its war against Iran. “We’re there to protect NATO, to protect them from Russia. But they’re not there to protect us. It’s ridiculous.” the White House chief said last week. The US president will give what he says is an “important” speech to the nation on Wednesday night local time regarding the war against Iran. At the same time, he said on Wednesday that he was seriously considering withdrawing the US from NATO after members of the alliance did not join Washington in the war against Iran.
