Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Britain under Keir Starmer, warning that the UK may no longer be the United States’ “number one ally” and suggesting that the future of NATO could be at risk.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the US president emphasised that allies must work together to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating that European and Asian economies are far more dependent on Gulf oil than the United States is.
Trump cautioned that if NATO members fail to support these efforts, the military alliance could face serious consequences. “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” he said.
He urged several countries—including Japan, South Korea, China, France, and the United Kingdom—to join what he described as a “team effort” to secure this vital shipping lane, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies typically pass.
Trump said allied countries should do “whatever it takes,” including sending minesweepers to clear potential naval mines in the waterway, noting that European militaries possess more minesweeping drones than the US.
In Britain, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has already called for the deployment of ships and drones in the strait to help alleviate soaring global oil prices. Trump also suggested that European forces should take the lead in eliminating threats along Iran’s coastline, stating, “They should knock out some bad actors.
The rhetoric surrounding these issues has led to significant reactions in the oil markets, causing Brent Crude Oil prices to surge to about $104 a barrel on Sunday evening, nearing levels last seen after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered a global energy crisis.
Trump further directed his criticism at Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the war in Ukraine, claiming that Washington had been “very sweet” in providing support to Ukraine. “We didn’t have to help them with Ukraine. Ukraine is thousands of miles away from us… But we helped them. Now we’ll see if they help us,” he stated.
He expressed dissatisfaction with Britain’s response to the Iran conflict, arguing that it had been inadequate considering the UK’s long-standing alliance with the US. “We asked for them to come; they didn’t want to come,” he said.
These comments come just days after Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, indicated that relations between the president and the British prime minister had soured. “The president’s position is that we do plenty for Europe, plenty for the UK in trade, defence, and the support we give to NATO,” Witkoff remarked. “Sometimes the response back—the reciprocity—is a little bit lacking.”
In response, Britain has deployed HMS Dragon to Cyprus as part of its regional strategy. However, Trump argued that this move came too late: “We need these ships before we win, not after we win,” he stated.
He also reiterated his claim that Iran has already been “essentially decimated,” echoing comments he made last week when he suggested that the conflict had been “won”—though he clarified that it was “not won enough.
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