WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States had been informed by most of its NATO allies that they did not want to get involved with the country’s military operation in Iran. He described the move as a “very foolish mistake.” Trump made the comments while taking questions from reporters in the Oval Office. He spoke during the St. Patrick’s Day visit of Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin. The president gave no indication that he plans to punish NATO allies for their stances .
Trump said NATO countries were supportive of the joint U.S.-Israeli war, which has now entered its third week. However, they did not want to get involved militarily. “I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake,” Trump said. “Everyone agrees with us, but they don’t want to help. And we, you know, we as the United States have to remember that because we think it’s pretty shocking” . When asked whether he would retaliate against allies for holding back, Trump said he had “nothing currently in mind” .
Trump’s Social Media Outburst
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump posted a lengthy message on his Truth Social platform addressing the situation. He wrote that “most” NATO allies had said “they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation” against Iran. Trump claimed he was “not surprised by their action” because he always considered NATO “to be a one-way street” .
“Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea,” Trump wrote. He added: “In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!” .
The president claimed sweeping military success against Iran. He stated that “Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti-Aircraft and Radar is gone and perhaps, most importantly, their Leaders, at virtually every level, are gone” . During the media briefing, he reiterated this, saying of Iran, “Everything is gone” .
Strait of Hormuz Tensions
Trump had called on nations to help police the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil passes through this strategic waterway . Iran responded to U.S.-Israeli attacks by using drones, missiles and mines to effectively close the channel for tankers .
Several U.S. allies said on Monday they had no immediate plans to send ships to help unblock the strait. This effectively rebuffed Trump’s plea for military support . French President Emmanuel Macron insisted Tuesday that his country would not participate in operations to open the Strait of Hormuz given the current context of air strikes and other military dangers. However, he said once the situation becomes “calmer,” France could participate in an “escort system” alongside other nations .
Britain has also waved off Washington’s request for assistance. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would only consider getting involved if allies agree to join the effort .
NATO’s Position and Response
Trump framed the alliance’s reluctance as a test. “This was a great test” of NATO countries, he said. The alliance “is making a very foolish mistake” by declining to join efforts to push oil shipments through the narrow waterway by force . He complained that the United States had sent hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, most of it under former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., but that Europe failed to offer even mine sweepers to help in Iran .
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters Monday the conflict is “not our war, we have not started it” . Trump responded by saying he is “disappointed in” NATO and noted that the U.S. has spent “trillions of dollars” on the alliance over the years. “When they don’t help us, it’s certainly something that we should think about. I don’t need Congress for that decision,” he said .
Resignation of Counterterrorism Official
The NATO Iran refusal came on the same day that Joe Kent, the president’s national counterterrorism director, resigned in protest. Kent wrote in a letter to the president that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby” .
Trump downplayed the resignation, saying of Kent: “I always thought he was weak on security” . The resignation highlights internal dissent over the conflict, which has now expanded dramatically across the Middle East .
Conflicting Messages on Assistance
Trump’s comments contained a notable contradiction. While he labeled the NATO Iran refusal a “foolish mistake,” he also insisted the U.S. never needed help in the first place . He told reporters at the White House, “We don’t need too much help, and we don’t need any help, actually.” He said he is not surprised by the lack of NATO support .
“I didn’t do a full-court press because I think if I did, they probably would be [helping]. But we don’t need help,” Trump said . He cautioned NATO leaders about their inaction. “This is a great test because we don’t need them, but they should have been there” .
Potential Long-Term Implications
Trump in the past has threatened to withdraw the United States from NATO. He did not bring that up on Tuesday but left the door open for future action. He said he has “nothing currently in mind” in terms of rethinking the U.S. relationship with NATO but is “not exactly thrilled when we help them with Ukraine” .
The NATO Iran refusal highlights growing strains in the transatlantic alliance. The U.S. and its European partners have diverged sharply on how to handle the conflict. European nations prefer diplomatic engagement while the U.S. pursues military action. This divide could have lasting consequences for alliance cohesion.
Iran has continued its attacks across the region. The UAE’s defense ministry said it intercepted 45 drones and 10 ballistic missiles on Tuesday alone. This brought the total to more than 2,000 drone and missile attacks since the war began . The escalating violence shows no signs of abating as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
