President Donald Trump has delivered a stark ultimatum to NATO allies, setting a firm deadline for European nations to provide concrete military support, including the deployment of warships, in the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. This demand, reported by Der Spiegel, follows a tense meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington on Wednesday, where Trump expressed clear disappointment over allies’ refusal to join the U.S. in its war against Iran.
The confrontation comes at a critical juncture, less than a day after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments. Trump had previously threatened to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Tehran did not comply with a Tuesday evening deadline to allow safe passage, a move that had already driven oil prices to new highs.
Rutte, speaking to CNN after the closed-door talks, described the exchange with Trump as “very frank, very open,” but sidestepped questions about whether the president explicitly threatened to withdraw from the 77-year-old alliance.
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Trump’s frustration with NATO has been mounting since the Iran war began in late February. He has publicly criticized the alliance as a “paper tiger” and suggested the U.S. might consider exiting after member countries ignored his calls for military assistance in securing the waterway. In a post on Truth Social following the meeting, Trump wrote in all caps about NATO’s absence during critical moments, even referencing past grievances over Greenland.
Earlier on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump had discussed the possibility of leaving NATO during conversations surrounding the meeting. This isn’t the first time Trump has targeted the alliance; during his first term, he claimed unilateral authority to exit, though a 2023 law passed by Congress prevents any president from withdrawing without legislative approval. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, a key figure on defense spending committees, issued a statement urging Trump to maintain clarity and consistency, emphasizing the shared sacrifices of NATO allies post-9/11 in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Separately, Rutte met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department to discuss the Iran conflict, U.S. efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and increased coordination with NATO partners. Rubio, who as a senator championed the law blocking unilateral NATO withdrawal, underscored the need for burden-sharing among allies.
Trump’s broader discontent with NATO extends beyond the Iran war, with reduced U.S. military support for Ukraine and threats to seize Greenland from Denmark further straining transatlantic ties over the past year. The ultimatum for European warships in the Strait of Hormuz now sets a hard deadline for allies to act, with potential consequences for the alliance’s cohesion if unmet by the specified timeframe.
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