Donald Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad future’ if allies fail to help US in Iran – Financial Times

Iran: Trump says NATO allies must back US action or face alliance collapse

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Donald Trump warned NATO faces a “very bad future” if member states refuse to support possible US military action against Iran, the Financial Times reported.

The president spoke on Thursday after Britain, France and Germany rejected a US request for a joint naval task force in the Strait of Hormuz.

Defense officials in Brussels worry the dispute could fracture the alliance. Trump repeated his threat to “do it alone” if Europe withholds ships and intelligence. NATO has no formal mandate to police the waterway.

Presidential advisers said Washington sought destroyers, surveillance planes and logistical help. The Pentagon calculates it needs 8 allied frigates to escort commercial traffic. European capitals cite the 2015 nuclear deal they still support. Iran has breached uranium enrichment limits since the US quit the accord in 2018.

Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office after calling Jens Stoltenberg. The secretary general confirmed the conversation took place. A NATO statement said the alliance follows “developments closely” but gave no commitment. The White House readout called European refusal “deeply disappointing.”

German defence minister Boris Pistorius ruled out participation. “We will not join any American-led mission under the current strategy,” he told Berlin reporters. France favours a European-only force. Britain offered two warships but only to protect UK-flagged vessels. The Dutch parliament delayed a decision until September.

The clash deepened after Iran seized the Stena Impero tanker on July 19. Tehran still holds the Swedish-owned vessel. The UK responded by detaining an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar earlier this month. Spain released the ship after 6 weeks, citing lack of EU backing.

Oil prices rose 3% on Trump’s remarks. Brent crude traded at $65 per barrel. Analysts at Clearview Energy Partners estimated a 12-day NATO naval gap would cut daily shipments by 1 million barrels. Insurance rates for supertankers doubled since July. Lloyd’s of London listed the strait as the highest-risk waterway.

US Central Command said it has repositioned the carrier Abraham Lincoln and 12 F-22 fighters. Officials said an additional 1,000 troops arrived at Al Udeid air base in Qatar last week. The deployment brought US forces in the region to 65,000. The command did not confirm reports of B-52 bombers on standby in Diego Garcia.

European diplomats warned the rift could spill into the upcoming NATO summit. The December meeting in London celebrates the alliance’s 70th anniversary. One envoy said planners may cancel the customary joint communiqué if language on Iran cannot be agreed. Hungary and Turkey already oppose tougher wording.

Mark Esper, sworn in as defence secretary on July 23, vowed to press allies again next week. He will meet counterparts in Brussels on August 7. Esper told Congress during his confirmation that “burden sharing includes missions far from Europe.” A senior aide said options range from escort duties to pre-emptive strikes on Iranian radar sites.

Iran’s UN mission responded on Thursday. “The president is inventing crises to break multilateral agreements,” spokesperson Alireza Miryousefi tweeted. Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that any US-led naval force would be viewed as a “piracy coalition.” Tehran said it can secure the strait with its own Revolutionary Guard navy.

Domestic reaction split along party lines. Republican senator Lindsey Graham urged “escalating deterrence.” Democratic contender Joe Biden called Trump’s approach “reckless unilateralism.” House speaker Nancy Pelosi demanded classified briefings next week. Congress remains in recess until September 9.

Background

The 1949 North Atlantic Treaty commits allies to mutual defence under Article 5, yet it applies only to attacks in Europe or North America. The alliance first invoked the clause after 9/11, leading to the Afghanistan mission. Iran has never triggered a collective response because it lies outside NATO’s defined area. Past US-led coalitions in the Gulf, such as Operation Earnest Will in 1987, included British and French ships but operated outside NATO command.

Tensions escalated after Trump abandoned the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and imposed “maximum pressure” sanctions. EU states created INSTEX, a barter mechanism, to bypass US restrictions yet have traded little through it. Iran shot down a US drone in June, prompting a last-minute US air strike cancellation. Since May, 6 foreign tankers have suffered sabotage or seizure near the strait, through which 20% of world oil transits.

What’s Next

Esper will seek firm pledges at the August 7 NATO defence ministers meeting. If no consensus emerges, US officials said a “coalition of the willing” could launch patrols by mid-August. European envoys plan an Iran nuclear deal meeting with Chinese and Russian diplomats on August 9 in Vienna. Trump must decide by October whether to renew waivers that let allies buy Iranian oil without penalties.

Analysts at the Atlantic Council said failure to secure NATO backing could push the administration toward narrower sanctions rather than open conflict. Insurance market executives expect the G7 finance ministers to discuss tanker coverage in Paris on August 10. Congressional staff predicted lawmakers will demand a fresh war powers vote if US escorts come under fire. Shipping companies have already diverted 17 supertankers around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 15 days to voyages and raising global freight costs.