March 16, 2026
NATO Faces “Remarkably Bad Future” if It Doesn’t Help Reopen Strait of Hormuz, Trump Warns
President Donald Trump warned Sunday, March 15, 2026, that NATO could face a “very bad future” if U.S. Allies do not assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil transport currently blocked by Iran amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The escalating tensions in the region are raising concerns about global energy supplies.
In a brief interview with The Financial Times, Trump stated that, just as the United States has aided Ukraine in its war with Russia, he expects Europe to contribute to securing the Strait of Hormuz, the closure of which has driven up global hydrocarbon prices.
“If there is no response or if We see a negative response [to the U.S. Request, editor’s note], I consider it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” Trump said. He similarly indicated that his planned trip to China to meet with President Xi Jinping could be postponed as he attempts to pressure Beijing to assist in reopening the vital shipping lane.
“We’d like to know before then. (Two weeks is) a long time,” Trump said, suggesting the visit could be “postponed” if China doesn’t offer support. He emphasized that China, like many European countries, relies more heavily than the United States on the flow of oil from the Gulf.
“It is appropriate that the people who benefit from the strait help to ensure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump stated. (afp, reuters, dpa)
