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Trump slams NATO as ‘paper tigers’ over refusal to help reopen Strait of Hormuz
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Oil prices surge above $100 as Iran disrupts global crude supply routes
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US rejects alliance support after failed push for joint naval operation
United States President Donald Trump has sharply criticised the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, describing its members as “cowards” and “paper tigers” over their reluctance to support efforts to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The criticism follows escalating tensions in the Middle East, where Iran has reportedly disrupted shipping activities through the Strait, a key global oil transit route that previously handled about a fifth of seaborne crude oil.
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The disruption has contributed to a sharp drop in exports and pushed global oil prices above $100 per barrel.
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In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused NATO allies of failing to provide warships to patrol the waterway, despite benefiting from global oil stability.
Trump wrote, “Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!. They didn’t want to join the fight… Now that the fight is militarily won, they complain about high oil prices but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz.”
He further described the refusal as cowardly, insisting that reopening the route would be a “simple military manoeuvre” with minimal risk.
Earlier, Trump revealed that the United States no longer requires NATO’s assistance after several member states reportedly declined his proposal for a multinational naval force to secure the waterway.
Speaking from the Oval Office, he labelled the decision by allies as a “very foolish mistake.”
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, and ongoing tensions in the region continue to pose significant risks to global oil supply and economic stability.