Mark Rutte, NATO’s Secretary General, has conveyed to several European capitals that US President Donald Trump wants clear commitments from allies in the coming days to support the security of the Strait of Hormuz, two European diplomats told Reuters.
Mark Rutte and Donald Trump had a meeting on Wednesday in Washington, amid tensions within the alliance caused by the war in Iran.
According to one of the diplomats quoted by Reuters, there is frustration in Washington, however, European allies emphasize that they were not consulted either before or after the launch of military operations.
Although NATO is not involved in the conflict with Iran, several member states are trying to contribute to long-term solutions for the reopening and protection of the Strait of Hormuz, in parallel with the ongoing negotiations with Tehran, the same agency shows, taken over by AOL.
In recent weeks, the American president has repeatedly criticized the alliance, which he called a “paper tiger”, and threatened to withdraw the United States, accusing European countries of not providing enough support for the military campaign in Iran. Even though the attacks have been suspended based on a two-week ceasefire, political tensions persist.