‘If There’s No Response…’: Trump Warns NATO Of ‘Very Bad’ Future If Allies Don’t Help Secure Hormuz

Last Updated:March 16, 2026, 09:46 IST

Several US allies have declined outright, after Trump urged about seven countries to deploy warships to help secure Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route disrupted during the Iran war.

After a muted response from allies to a proposed naval coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the war with Iran, US President Donald Trump has warned that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could face a “very bad" future if member states fail to support Washington’s efforts to reopen the strategic waterway. The warning comes during the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump urged allies, particularly European countries, to join what he described as a “team effort" to secure the key maritime chokepoint. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the strait, which has been largely blocked by Iran since the war began more than two weeks ago.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there. If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO," Trump said.

He argued that Europe and China depend heavily on oil from the Gulf, unlike the United States.

Meanwhile, several US allies have responded cautiously, or declined outright, after Trump urged about seven countries to deploy warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route disrupted during the Iran war. Australia said it would not contribute naval assets, with cabinet minister Catherine King telling ABC that while the strait is critically important, Canberra has not been asked to send a ship and is not planning to do so.

Trump said on Monday, “It would be interesting to see which country would not help us with this small endeavour of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. Compared to everything else, it is small because Iran has very little firepower left. Their missiles are down to a low number, you can see they are firing very few of them because they do not have many left and because we have decimated their manufacturing capability…"

NATO is a military alliance of 31 countries from North America and Europe formed to provide collective defence, meaning an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The United States is NATO’s most powerful member and plays a leading role by providing the largest share of military capabilities, funding and strategic leadership within the alliance.

News world ‘If There’s No Response…’: Trump Warns NATO Of ‘Very Bad’ Future If Allies Don’t Help Secure Hormuz

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