Trump calls NATO "cowards" over lack of support in Iran war

President Donald Trump assailed NATO allies on Friday over ​their lack of support for the ‌U.S.-Israel war against Iran, calling the longtime U.S. allies "cowards."

"Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!" Trump ​said in a social media post.

Trump has ​been calling for major U.S. allies and ⁠others, none of whom were consulted or ​advised on the war, to help secure the ​safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has roiled global markets, killed thousands and displaced ​millions since U.S.-Israel strikes began on Feb. ​28.

The U.S. president complained NATO countries did not want ‌to ⁠join the fight against Iran, yet they still complain about high oil prices.

"Now that the fight is militarily won, with very little danger for them, ​they complain ​about the ⁠high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want ​to help open the Strait of Hormuz, ​a ⁠simple military manoeuvre that is the single reason for the high oil prices. So easy ⁠for ​them to do, with so ​little risk," he wrote.

Germany, Britain, France, ​Italy, the Netherlands, ⁠Japan and Canada pledged in a joint statement on Thursday to join "appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage ​through the Strait." But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made ​clear that ⁠this presupposed an end to combat.

French President Emmanuel Macron said after a European Union summit in Brussels that defending international law and ⁠promoting ​de-escalation was "the best we can do," adding: "I ​have not heard anyone here express a willingness to enter this conflict — quite the ​opposite."