Donald Trump has threatened to stop sending weapons to Ukraine to pressure European allies into joining a coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
He wants to restore shipping through the strait after Iran effectively shut it down at the end of February, following U.S. and Israel strikes on Iran, according to the Financial Times.
The U.S. President has called for NATO naval forces to be deployed to reopen the route, which carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. European countries initially rejected the idea, saying such an operation is not feasible during active fighting and that the conflict is not their responsibility.
After Donald Trump threatened to withdraw from NATO’s initiative to procure weapons for Ukraine under the PURL program, Mark Rutte, the Alliance’s Secretary General, called on key partners to take action.
As a result, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom announced on March 19 that they are ready to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to hold talks among the 35 signatory countries to form a coalition to operate in the Strait after hostilities end.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump said he intends to consider the possibility of a full withdrawal of the United States from NATO.
