US President Donald Trump has slammed NATO as “absolutely useless” in opening the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war.
According to media reports, Trump made the remarks on during a speech at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona, and was introduced by Erika Kirk.
He reiterated the Strait of Hormuz has been opened by Iran, but warned the US naval blockade will remain in place until “transaction with Iran is 100 per cent complete.”
Trump said he recently received a phone call from NATO offering support.
Trump said, “Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is almost over, I received a phone call from NATO asking if we would like some help. Thank you very much NATO.”
“And I told them I would have liked your help two months ago, but now I really don't want your help anymore because they were absolutely useless when we needed them.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier Saturday announced a “multinational mission” to “reassure commercial shipping” and “support mine clearance” in the Strait of Hormuz.
The President compared the NATO call to a campaign donor offering to give money after an election is over.
Trump said, “After I won, people came up to me, ‘sir I’d like to make a major contribution to your campaign', and I said, ' Listen, just so you understand, campaign contributions after I won don't count.”
“And NATO, after we won at this encounter, was the same.”
He also said NATO needed the support of the US, pointing to the large sums the country contributes to the military alliance.
The US is the largest contributor to NATO and gave an estimated $980 billion, which represents 3.2 per cent of GDP.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
