Trending Now - Trump Criticizes Nato's Inaction on Strait of Hormuz Security

WHO:

President Donald Trump

NATO

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas

French President Emmanuel Macron

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Geoffrey Pyatt, former assistant secretary of state for energy resources

Philip Gordon, former national security advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris

Liana Fix, Council on Foreign Relations

David Sandalow, fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy

WHAT:

Trump criticized NATO for not assisting in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. military fired multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator bombs on Iranian missile sites.

The Strait of Hormuz typically accommodates about 20% of the world’s crude oil.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is causing the largest disruption to global oil trade in history.

Trump stated, “We don’t need any help, actually.”

Trump expressed disappointment in allies for not sending support, stating, “You would have thought they would have said, ‘We’d love to send a couple of minesweepers.’”

A cable sent to U.S. diplomatic missions requested designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.

WHERE:

Strait of Hormuz

Washington, D.C.

European Union

Afghanistan

Libya

Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean

WHEN:

The conflict in Iran is in its third week as of March 2026.

Trump hosted Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin on March 17th, 2026.

The U.S. military strikes began on March 14th, 2026.

A cable was sent to U.S. diplomatic missions on March 16th, 2026.

The layoffs at the State Department occurred in July 2025.

WHY:

Trump believes it is in allies' interest to prevent Iran from securing a nuclear weapon.

Trump claims NATO allies have relied on U.S. support for Ukraine but are not reciprocating during the Iran conflict.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is impacting global oil supplies and prices.

HOW:

Trump has been pressing allies to help safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on Iranian missile sites to mitigate threats to international shipping.

The State Department coordinated the release of strategic reserves in response to the conflict.

(UPDATED March 18, 2026 01:29 UTC)

In a significant escalation of tensions, President Trump criticized NATO for failing to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global oil trade and has been experiencing the largest disruption in history. The U.S. military launched airstrikes on Iranian missile sites last Friday, while Trump expressed disappointment in allies for not providing support, stating they should have offered resources like minesweepers. A cable sent to U.S. diplomatic missions on March 16 requested the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations, highlighting the urgency of the situation as the conflict in Iran enters its third week.