‘Foolish Mistake’: Trump On NATO’s Refusal To Help On Iran War | Image: Reuters
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that most of its NATO allies have told the US that they do not want to get involved in the country’s military campaign in Iran. Trump called the move “very stupid.”
Speaking at an event in the Oval Office, Trump said NATO countries are supporting the US and Israel’s joint war – which has now entered its third week – even if they do not want to get involved.
‘NATO is doing a very stupid thing’
“I think NATO is making a very stupid mistake,” Trump said. He added, “Everyone agrees with us, but they don’t want to help. And we – you know – we, as America, have to remember that, because we find it quite shocking.”
After Iran responded to US and Israeli attacks with drones, missiles and mines – effectively closing the strait to tankers – Trump appealed to other countries to help patrol the Strait of Hormuz.
But several U.S. allies said Monday they had no immediate plans to send ships to help open the strait; In this way he effectively rejected Trump’s appeal for military assistance.
Earlier Tuesday, Trump wrote on ‘Truth Social’, “Due to the fact that we have had such great military success, we no longer ‘need’ or want assistance from NATO countries – we never had!” He specifically mentioned Japan, Australia and South Korea.
Also spoke on the resignation of Joseph Kent
US President Donald Trump said at a press conference in the Oval Office that it was a “good thing” that Joseph Kent, the head of the National Counterterrorism Center, had resigned after he claimed Iran was not a threat.
Trump said, “When I read his statement, I realized that it is a good thing that he is no longer in this position, because he said that Iran is not a threat. Whereas Iran was a threat to every country.”
Earlier on Tuesday, in his first foreign policy session, Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, rejected US and Israeli proposals for de-escalation and a ceasefire. According to a senior Iranian official, the leader rejected the proposals sent through two mediating countries, saying “this is not the right time for peace,” unless Israel and the United States are brought to their knees, accept defeat, and pay compensation.
Also read: Trump’s top official resigns, rebellion against war in America itself