U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could face serious consequences if European allies fail to support the United States in its conflict with Iran, according to a report published by the Financial Times on Sunday.
Trump’s remarks came shortly after he called on several major economies—including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom—to cooperate in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route responsible for transporting roughly 20% of global oil supplies.
Iran recently blocked the key maritime passage in response to military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, escalating tensions in the region and raising concerns about global energy supply disruptions.
In a telephone interview with the Financial Times, Trump said the response from NATO allies could determine the alliance’s future direction.
“If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” Trump stated.
The U.S. president also indicated that he may postpone an upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as Washington pressures Beijing to play a greater role in addressing the Iran crisis and reopening the vital oil transit route.
Trump emphasized that countries benefiting from the Strait of Hormuz should contribute to efforts to protect it. He noted that many economies depend heavily on energy shipments passing through the strategic channel.
“It’s only appropriate that nations benefiting from the Strait of Hormuz help ensure that nothing disrupts it,” Trump said during the interview.
China, one of the world’s largest energy importers, relies significantly on oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump highlighted this dependence, saying Beijing should take part in efforts to secure the route.
“I think China should help too because China receives about 90% of its oil through the strait,” Trump said, adding that waiting until the planned summit would be too late to address the situation effectively.
The remarks follow high-level economic discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials in Paris over the weekend. Trump and Xi are expected to meet later this month at a summit in Beijing, although the meeting could be delayed depending on developments related to the Iran conflict.
