U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, branding them “cowards” over their refusal to support Washington and Israel in the ongoing war against Iran.

In a strongly worded statement on Friday, Trump accused long-standing allies of abandoning the United States at a critical moment, saying the alliance had failed to step up despite benefiting from U.S. military power for decades.

The U.S. leader’s anger is largely tied to the refusal of NATO countries to participate in efforts to secure the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route that has been disrupted amid the conflict.

“Without the U.S., NATO is a paper tiger,” Trump said, insisting that allies were unwilling to act even as rising oil prices—triggered by the crisis—continue to hit global economies.

Rift over war involvement

The war, which began following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, has escalated into one of the most volatile conflicts in recent years, with thousands reportedly killed and millions displaced.

Despite mounting pressure from Washington, key NATO members—including Britain, France, Germany, Italy and others—have stopped short of direct military involvement. Instead, they issued a cautious joint position supporting maritime security, but only under conditions tied to de-escalation and a possible ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that European nations favour diplomacy and adherence to international law over expanding the conflict, while Germany signalled any support would come only after hostilities end.
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Strategic and economic stakes

At the heart of the dispute is the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. The disruption has already driven crude prices above $100 per barrel, intensifying global economic concerns.

Trump has pushed for a coordinated military effort to reopen the route, including naval escorts and expanded operations in the Gulf. However, allies remain wary of being drawn into a wider regional war, especially as Iranian retaliatory attacks continue across the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has ramped up its own military presence, deploying additional aircraft and naval forces to counter Iranian threats and restore shipping الأمن in the region.

Rising tensions within NATO

Trump’s remarks mark one of the sharpest public rebukes of NATO allies in recent years and highlight deepening divisions within the alliance over foreign policy and military commitments.

The U.S. president has long criticised NATO members for what he describes as over-reliance on American defence spending, but the current crisis has exposed a more fundamental split—whether the alliance should back Washington in an offensive conflict.

Analysts warn that the growing rift could weaken NATO cohesion at a time of heightened global instability, with the Iran war already threatening to expand beyond the Middle East.

As the conflict grinds on, the question remains whether diplomatic pressure—or escalating military realities—will eventually force a shift in NATO’s stance.

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