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President Donald Trump made it clear Tuesday that America will go it alone in defending the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, delivering a blunt message to European allies who rejected his call for military assistance. After Germany, France, and other NATO members refused to join operations to secure the crucial oil shipping lane, Trump simply shrugged. We do not need any help, actually, he told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Ireland prime minister. The about-face came just one day after Trump had urged nations to get involved so oil tankers could safely navigate the strait, which Iran has effectively shut down with attacks jeopardizing global energy supplies. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was particularly direct in his refusal, stating this is not our war; we have not started it. French President Emmanuel Macron said France would never take part in operations to open or free the Strait of Hormuz in the current context. Trump response to Macron was characteristically sharp, predicting the French leader will be out of office very soon. The diplomatic dustup puts Trump America First foreign policy to the test. For decades, he has warned that the United States builds a protective umbrella around other nations without any guarantee those beneficiaries would come to our aid when needed. Now those warnings appear prophetic. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump closest confidants, revealed he had never heard Trump so angry in his life after speaking with him about the allied rejection. Graham warned the repercussions of providing little assistance to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning are going to be wide and deep for Europe and America. The war, which the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran on February 28, has triggered a spike in gas prices creating political headaches for Trump ahead of November midterm elections. European diplomats privately expressed little enthusiasm for joining a war they say Trump started without consulting them. One told NBC News that even if European navies were sent to the Gulf, it would not ensure the strait is reopened because Iran can keep it closed as long as it likes with just drones or mines. The White House defended Trump position, with spokeswoman Anna Kelly saying the President was resoundingly elected to put America First, and he will continue to bolster US national security through Operation Epic Fury, with or without NATO. The episode marks another chapter in Trump complicated relationship with the alliance he has long criticized as unfair to American taxpayers.
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