WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� entered his without consulting global allies, but as he weighs an exit from the conflict, he is making it clear that he is expecting the world to help him that it has caused.
Trump is taking an increasingly for the U.S.-Israeli war effort. He also is giving short shrift to the fact that his decision contributed to disrupting the flow of oil to global markets through the crucial , which to largely choke off even as Trump insists that
The president started his Tuesday by fuming on social media at two of America’s closest allies 鈥� France and Britain 鈥� while calling on the world to 鈥淕o get your own oil!鈥� and 鈥渟tart learning how to fight for yourself.鈥�
鈥淎ll of those countries that can鈥檛 get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,鈥� Trump posted.
Minutes later, he went after France, claiming the country was 鈥渧ery unhelpful鈥� as it 鈥渨ouldn鈥檛 let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory.鈥�
Trump’s top advisers also are stepping up anti-NATO rhetoric
As Trump has , for not joining the U.S. and Israel in the war and being slow to respond to , top members of his administration have followed suit. The dynamic is creating uncertainty and , whose value Trump has already .
While Trump鈥檚 often scattershot insults and complaints toward partners and allies have become expected and to a certain extent tolerated, the piling on by top aides like , Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary in recent days has suggested that the administration鈥檚 anti-NATO posture is gaining steam 鈥� even as the president is showing signs that he could be sooner than later.
Hegseth argued Tuesday that the U.S. did 鈥渢he heavy lifting on behalf of the free world鈥� to deal with the threat from Iran and that other countries that depend on oil normally flowing through the strait should be aware that getting shipping moving is 鈥渘ot just our problem set going forward.鈥�
鈥淭here are countries around the world who ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well,鈥� Hegseth said at a Pentagon news conference. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.鈥�
Trump, in an Oval Office exchange with reporters later Tuesday, said protecting the strait will be up to other countries and estimated that the U.S. would be done launching attacks against Iran in two to three weeks.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not for us,” Trump said. “That鈥檒l be for France. That鈥檒l be for whoever鈥檚 using the strait.鈥�
U.S. investors took Trump’s sharp rhetoric in stride, including from an interview with CBS 草莓传媒 in which Trump said he’s not quite ready to pull back near the strait but soon will. The S&P 500 surged 2.9% to , while the Dow industrials advanced more than 2.5% as doubt about a possible end to the war swung back to hope on Wall Street.
Nevertheless, the president’s criticism, particularly weeks of lashing NATO, has left Europe uneasy about what it might mean for the military alliance, which was already shaken by Trump reducing U.S. military support for Ukraine and .
NATO allies Spain and France have either forbidden or or joint military facilities for the U.S. for the war. They, along with other nations, have agreed to at least assist in an international coalition that would keep the Strait of Hormuz open once the conflict ends, but the specifics of their involvement and the health of the coalition itself remain unclear.
France and the U.K. on Tuesday sought to downplay Trump’s rhetorical salvos, with Macron鈥檚 office expressing surprise: 鈥淔rance has not changed its position since day one.”
British Defense Secretary John Healey said the U.S. is a key ally despite criticism from his American counterpart and noted that the U.K. is doing its part to help Gulf nations defend against Iranian attacks.
Healey, during a visit to , announced that the U.K. is sending more missile and air defense systems to , and as well as extending the use of its Typhoon fighter jets in Qatar.
鈥淭he U.S. is a uniquely close ally to the U.K.,鈥� Healey said. 鈥淲e do things as two nations that no other militaries or intelligence services do.”
He said his job during the conflict was to ensure Britain is defending its people and its partners, adding that “we are.鈥�
While the Europeans have made plain that the conflict isn’t theirs, they have plenty of reason beyond securing the strait to ensure that Iran doesn’t escalate further, analysts say.
Why Europe needs to remain engaged
More than a decade of civil war in Syria led and a significant number to seek asylum in Europe, with social and political ripples for the continent.
And with the Houthis, the Iran-aligned militant group in Yemen, launching its at Israel over the weekend and , a critically important trade route for Europe, there’s no shortage of reasons for European officials to use what leverage they might have to encourage Trump to wind down the war.
鈥淚 think this is a true opportunity for Europe to show the Gulf that it can be a partner,鈥� said Yasmine Farouk, Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Project director at the International Crisis Group. “And I think they have already been showing that in the defense (weapons they’ve provided to Gulf nations), they need now to make it more into the diplomatic side in terms of offering offramps and working on a deal.”
Europe, in its effort to persuade Trump, could do well by keeping its focus on the economic consequences of the war, pressing diplomacy and a maritime stabilization mission tied to a ceasefire, and building 鈥渁n off-ramp that flatters Trump鈥檚 vanity,鈥� Jeremy Shapiro, U.S. programs director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in an analysis published Tuesday.
鈥淭rump will claim victory no matter how this war ends,鈥� Shapiro wrote. 鈥淓uropeans should want that to happen sooner rather than later.鈥�
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Associated Press writers Ben Finley, Darlene Superville and Konstantin Toropin in Washington and Brian Melley in London contributed to this report.
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