Donald Trump Says Western Allies Let US Down In Bid To Secure Strait Of Hormuz

International

oi-Ashish Rana

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday sharply criticised key Western allies after several countries declined to back Washington’s push for a broader coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial oil transit route disrupted by the ongoing Iran war.

Trump said he was “not happy” with the response from partners, especially after the US sought urgent support to protect tanker traffic through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

Trump says allies are not stepping up

Speaking about the lack of immediate backing, Trump made clear he was frustrated that countries long shielded by US military and diplomatic support were now reluctant to help when Washington wanted them to act.

He said he was “not happy” with the United Kingdom and appeared taken aback by the broader European response, suggesting several allies had failed to match the urgency of the crisis.

The criticism came after multiple governments held back from joining the US-led effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have surged amid the widening Iran conflict.

EU declines to widen Gulf naval role

The European Union, despite pressure from Washington, decided against expanding its naval operations in the Gulf. That decision added to the White House’s frustration as the US seeks to build a wider security coalition around the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, handling nearly one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments. Any prolonged disruption there could rattle international energy markets and further intensify concerns over global supply chains.

Trump says some countries may still join after Macron call

Even as he voiced anger over the initial hesitation, Trump indicated that the diplomatic picture may still shift.

After speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump said some countries had later shown signs of willingness to help, though he suggested the delayed response was not good enough given the scale of the threat.

He said a few nations may yet join a coalition aimed at protecting commercial shipping and helping reopen the waterway, as the US presses ahead with efforts to restore safe passage for oil and gas tankers.

US diplomats told to rally support against Iran

Separately, the US State Department has instructed diplomats around the world to actively lobby foreign governments to support Washington’s wider anti-Iran strategy.

According to the directive, American diplomats were told to push countries to:

• Join the coalition to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
• Designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation
• Add Hezbollah to national terror watch lists

The memo also warned that Iran could potentially target interests far beyond the Gulf, raising fears that the conflict may widen internationally.

As the Trump administration intensifies pressure on both allies and adversaries, the Strait of Hormuz crisis is increasingly becoming not just a military flashpoint, but also a test of how far America’s traditional partners are willing to align with Washington during a rapidly escalating regional conflict.