Trump points to France and the United Kingdom, gives an ultimatum to NATO over Hormuz and hints that the US will withdraw soon

The US president gave until April 6 to advance peace talks with Iran sponsored by Pakistan, China and Saudi Arabia. The White House demanded the reopening of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuzor I would bomb the Iranian power plants.

However, Trump has shown signs of abandoning this goal in the last 24 hours. In statements to New York Postdownplayed the situation in the area, stating that oil transit will be restored “automatically“when the US withdraws.

Regarding the security of cargo ships and oil tankers transiting through the strait, the president has hinted that Iranian defenses are sufficiently weakened so that third countries take care of ensuring it.

“They have no strength left,” he said. “That the countries that use the strait open it…because I imagine whoever controls the oil will be happy to open it up.” Trump added that the American presence in the Persian Gulf “it wouldn’t last much longer”.

This is a new blow to the allied countries, particularly the Europeanswhom he accuses of lack of cooperation in the war in Iran. The American president offered them two options this morning: buy oil from the USo “take the strait” themselves.

Punishing the countries of Europe

Trump’s anger against Europe, the United Kingdom and NATO has to do with the reluctance of different states about the use of military bases on their territory to refuel planes involved in the war against Iran.

For the first time, furthermore, Trump charged against Francewhich he accused of providing “very little help” for preventing Iranian planes loaded with material “from flying through its airspace.” French diplomatic sources confirmed that the rejection occurred over the weekend.

According to Paris, the Israeli planes were carrying American weapons that could have been used against both Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The decision was made following the same policy they adopted since the beginning of the conflict, they argue.

On the same day, it was learned that the Italian Ministry of Defense prevented the landing of American planes heading to the Middle East at the Sigonella base, Sicily. The US had not asked for the “special permission“, they explain, for a use not included in the agreements.

The United Kingdom, finally, has once again been the object of the tycoon’s wrath, who describes it as a “former ally” for not having gotten involved in the “beheading of Iran“The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is a frequent object of ridicule by Trump. “He is no Churchill,” he has said of him.

What retaliation can you take?

Previously, the Trump administration had warned Spain for its refusal to allow the planes involved in Operation ‘Epic Fury’ to use the Rota and Morón bases. At the request of the ‘hawk’ Lindsey Graham, he proposed moving the US facilities to more similar countries.

Even Germany, a country that has served as Washington’s faithful squire and hosts the American base of Ramsteinthe largest in Europe, has not been able to avoid the debate. The president Frank-Walter Steinmeier went so far as to call the war ‘illegal’.

The first to warn of retaliation after the conflict was the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. This Monday he warned that his country would “review” the relationship with NATO due to incidents in the airspace and assistance to military aircraft.

“If NATO consists only of us defending Europe while they deny us base rights when we need them, it is not a very good agreement,” Rubio said after meeting with European representatives.

The Secretary of War, Pete Hegsethinsisted on this idea in his press conference at the Pentagon this Tuesday. When asked by journalists, he stated that the US could renounce the common defense clause that binds NATO allies.

“As far as NATO is concerned, the final decision is in the hands of the president. But I can say that many things have been revealed,” he warned, referring to Article 5, which establishes that an attack on an allied state is “an attack against all.”

“When we ask for additional help or simply access, we are met with questions, blockages or doubts“Hegseth reproached. “An alliance is not a big deal if you have countries that are not willing to come to your aid when you need them,” he concluded.

Tensions between Trump and NATO began in his first term, demanding an increase in contribution of GDP to military spending that the members, even Spain reluctantly, have been complying with.

However, his second coming to power has exacerbated tensions, especially after the crisis over Greenland which was close to provoking an armed conflict between members of the Atlantic Alliance.

Although the reprisals to which the US alludes would be directed more at the funds with which it provides the Alliance, the ambiguity over Article 5 is already a security risk. A state like Russia could be emboldened to attack European countries beyond Ukraine if it believes that the United States he is not going to come to his defense.