>Donald Trump threatened to stop supplying weapons for Ukraine in order to pressure European allies to join a “coalition of the willing” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to people briefed on the discussions.
The strait has been in effect closed by Iran after the US and Israel attacked the Islamic republic in late February, choking a route through which a fifth of the world’s oil typically passes.
>The US president demanded Nato navies help him reopen the narrow waterway last month, but was rebuffed by European capitals which said it would be impossible while the conflict was ongoing, with several also pointing out that this was “not our war”.
Three officials familiar with the discussions said that Trump responded by threatening to stop supplies to Purl, Nato’s weapons procurement initiative for Ukraine funded by European countries.
>As a result, and at the urging of Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, a group of countries including key alliance members France, Germany and the UK issued a hastily agreed statement on March 19 which said: “We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait [of Hormuz].”
One of the officials briefed on the discussions said: “It was Rutte who insisted on the joint statement because Trump had threatened to withdraw from Purl and from Ukraine in general.
“The statement was then quickly put together, and other countries joined in afterwards because there was not enough time to invite everyone to sign up straight away.”
Rutte was involved in multiple calls with Trump and US secretary of state Marco Rubio in the two days before the statement was issued, two officials said.
Another official said that Rutte, in a call with France, Germany and the UK, explained that Trump was “rather hysterical” at the Europeans’ refusal to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
British officials insisted that the UK and the US were discussing on a “military to military basis” options for securing the strait before March 19, but did not deny that Washington had threatened to withdraw support for Ukraine if Nato countries did not step up.
Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly said: “President Trump has made his disappointment with Nato and other allies clear, and as the president emphasised, ‘the United States will remember’.”
Trump has repeatedly voiced his disappointment with European allies for not doing more to assist the US war against Iran, while casting the conflict in Ukraine as a problem for Europe.
“We’re there to protect Nato, to protect them from Russia. But they’re not there to protect us. It’s ridiculous,” he said during a cabinet meeting last week.
Trump told Reuters that he planned to state in an evening address to the American public on Wednesday evening that he would “absolutely” consider withdrawing from Nato.
>A Nato official said the alliance did not comment on the content of Rutte’s calls with other leaders, and directed the FT to a public statement made by him on March 19.
In response to a question about Trump’s irritation at Nato allies over the Strait of Hormuz, Rutte said: “I am confident that allies, as always, will do everything in support of our shared interests.”
More countries have signed the joint statement since it was released on March 19.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday said that he would host talks this week between the 35 signatories on forming a coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “after the fighting has stopped”.
US-Israeli operations against Iran have intensified global competition for Pac-3 interceptor missiles used in Patriot air defence systems, and utilised by Gulf nations to defend against Iranian attacks. The interceptors are also a vital part of Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian missiles.
Rubio said on Friday that US military supplies to Ukraine through the Purl mechanism have not been impacted by the war in the Middle East. “Nothing yet has been diverted,” he added.
But Rubio did not rule out that the US might in the future seek to reroute weapons earmarked for Ukraine to replenish American stockpiles expended in the war against Iran.
“If we need something for America and it’s American, we’re going to keep it for America first,” he said.
TheETERNAL20 on
What weapons? This guys brain has to be a wallnut or something
BeingEnglishIsACult on
Everybody else have to clean up his mess.
Snake_Plizken on
He is already stealing the weapons we payed for through PURL. We should put sanctions on USA. No lithography machines until he pays up.
Mesjach on
Isn’t NATO a *defensive* alliance?
I’m pretty sure when a member starts a war, others have no obligation to help them in the effort.
Successful_Shake1102 on
F**ing Russian asset. Grasping at the straws.
Romanian_ on
Please help in the war I already won!
JuggernautBright1463 on
Sounds like a delightful opportunity for the European Arms Consortiums considering its’ not like there are going to be any spare Patriots for a decade at this rate. Amusingly the GCC States could trade their US Weapons for Ukrainian drones.
stars_mcdazzler on
Everyone’s getting a TACO today! TACOs for everyone!
Short_Point_8179 on
This halfwit is exhausting. I just can’t comprehend the decision to support him that so many US voters made, and how he’s still in power.
dadashton on
Pathetic bully.
Domi4 on
We can start paying China for their weapons short term then? Eventually switch completely to domestic manufacturing.
Logical-Breakfast150 on
Might as well let him at this point. If Europe actually caved to this demand, he would just use it to extract more and more.
There is simply no making a deal with Donald Trump.
bicycle-made-for2 on
Here we go again….Blackmail….but for it to work, the countries being targeted need to buy in to the rhetoric. Unfortunately for Trump, he has cried wolf too often now!
asnbud01 on
Oh how enticing…an excuse for those spineless ass licking ball sucking euros to capitulate to daddy. You know the characters I’m alluding to.
Matchbreakers on
The weapons he’s already not sending and making us pay for? Oh no.
17 commenti
>Donald Trump threatened to stop supplying weapons for Ukraine in order to pressure European allies to join a “coalition of the willing” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to people briefed on the discussions.
The strait has been in effect closed by Iran after the US and Israel attacked the Islamic republic in late February, choking a route through which a fifth of the world’s oil typically passes.
>The US president demanded Nato navies help him reopen the narrow waterway last month, but was rebuffed by European capitals which said it would be impossible while the conflict was ongoing, with several also pointing out that this was “not our war”.
Three officials familiar with the discussions said that Trump responded by threatening to stop supplies to Purl, Nato’s weapons procurement initiative for Ukraine funded by European countries.
>As a result, and at the urging of Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, a group of countries including key alliance members France, Germany and the UK issued a hastily agreed statement on March 19 which said: “We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait [of Hormuz].”
One of the officials briefed on the discussions said: “It was Rutte who insisted on the joint statement because Trump had threatened to withdraw from Purl and from Ukraine in general.
“The statement was then quickly put together, and other countries joined in afterwards because there was not enough time to invite everyone to sign up straight away.”
Rutte was involved in multiple calls with Trump and US secretary of state Marco Rubio in the two days before the statement was issued, two officials said.
Another official said that Rutte, in a call with France, Germany and the UK, explained that Trump was “rather hysterical” at the Europeans’ refusal to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
British officials insisted that the UK and the US were discussing on a “military to military basis” options for securing the strait before March 19, but did not deny that Washington had threatened to withdraw support for Ukraine if Nato countries did not step up.
Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly said: “President Trump has made his disappointment with Nato and other allies clear, and as the president emphasised, ‘the United States will remember’.”
Trump has repeatedly voiced his disappointment with European allies for not doing more to assist the US war against Iran, while casting the conflict in Ukraine as a problem for Europe.
“We’re there to protect Nato, to protect them from Russia. But they’re not there to protect us. It’s ridiculous,” he said during a cabinet meeting last week.
Trump told Reuters that he planned to state in an evening address to the American public on Wednesday evening that he would “absolutely” consider withdrawing from Nato.
>A Nato official said the alliance did not comment on the content of Rutte’s calls with other leaders, and directed the FT to a public statement made by him on March 19.
In response to a question about Trump’s irritation at Nato allies over the Strait of Hormuz, Rutte said: “I am confident that allies, as always, will do everything in support of our shared interests.”
More countries have signed the joint statement since it was released on March 19.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday said that he would host talks this week between the 35 signatories on forming a coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “after the fighting has stopped”.
US-Israeli operations against Iran have intensified global competition for Pac-3 interceptor missiles used in Patriot air defence systems, and utilised by Gulf nations to defend against Iranian attacks. The interceptors are also a vital part of Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian missiles.
Rubio said on Friday that US military supplies to Ukraine through the Purl mechanism have not been impacted by the war in the Middle East. “Nothing yet has been diverted,” he added.
But Rubio did not rule out that the US might in the future seek to reroute weapons earmarked for Ukraine to replenish American stockpiles expended in the war against Iran.
“If we need something for America and it’s American, we’re going to keep it for America first,” he said.
What weapons? This guys brain has to be a wallnut or something
Everybody else have to clean up his mess.
He is already stealing the weapons we payed for through PURL. We should put sanctions on USA. No lithography machines until he pays up.
Isn’t NATO a *defensive* alliance?
I’m pretty sure when a member starts a war, others have no obligation to help them in the effort.
F**ing Russian asset. Grasping at the straws.
Please help in the war I already won!
Sounds like a delightful opportunity for the European Arms Consortiums considering its’ not like there are going to be any spare Patriots for a decade at this rate. Amusingly the GCC States could trade their US Weapons for Ukrainian drones.
Everyone’s getting a TACO today! TACOs for everyone!
This halfwit is exhausting. I just can’t comprehend the decision to support him that so many US voters made, and how he’s still in power.
Pathetic bully.
We can start paying China for their weapons short term then? Eventually switch completely to domestic manufacturing.
Might as well let him at this point. If Europe actually caved to this demand, he would just use it to extract more and more.
There is simply no making a deal with Donald Trump.
Here we go again….Blackmail….but for it to work, the countries being targeted need to buy in to the rhetoric. Unfortunately for Trump, he has cried wolf too often now!
Oh how enticing…an excuse for those spineless ass licking ball sucking euros to capitulate to daddy. You know the characters I’m alluding to.
The weapons he’s already not sending and making us pay for? Oh no.
F U C K T R U M P 🖕