Donald Trump demanded European naval assistance to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian closures, threatening to withhold aid to Ukraine when refused.
Strait of Hormuz Closure and Initial Response
The Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed by Iran in response to the February 28th military operation by the US and Israel. This blockage, impacting a route for one-fifth of global oil transport, caused a significant increase in crude oil prices.
In March, Trump requested assistance from NATO navies to reopen the strait, but European nations refused, citing the ongoing conflict and stating it was “not our war.”
Threat to Ukraine Aid
According to three officials familiar with the discussions, Trump reacted by threatening to halt deliveries to PURL, the NATO initiative for European countries to purchase weapons for Ukraine from US stockpiles.
NATO Statement and Pressure from Rutte
As a result of this pressure, and at the urging of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, a group of nations including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a hastily agreed statement on March 19th. The statement expressed a willingness to support actions ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
One official stated that Rutte pushed for the joint statement because Trump threatened to withdraw from PURL and generally from support for Ukraine. The statement was quickly drafted, and other countries joined later due to time constraints.
Trump’s Dismissal of Experts
Experts had warned of the potential for Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz, but President Trump and his defense minister dismissed many critics and are now facing the consequences.
“Hysteria” and Diplomatic Efforts
Two officials reported that Rutte engaged in numerous phone conversations with Trump and US Secretary of State Mark Rubio in the two days leading up to the statement. Another official said Rutte explained to French, German, and British authorities that Trump was “quite hysterical” over Europe’s refusal to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
Military Discussions and Potential Withdrawal
British officials stated that before March 19th, the UK and US discussed options for securing the strait at a “military level.” However, they did not deny that Washington threatened to withdraw support for Ukraine if NATO countries did not increase their involvement.