Trump threatens Europe: If they do not participate in joint escort, military aid to Ukraine will be halted

Trump pressured European allies, using Ukraine weapon aid as leverage, to join a joint effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

According to media reports on Thursday, insiders said that after multiple European countries declined to participate in the U.S.-led Strait of Hormuz escort operation in mid-March, Trump immediately threatened to stop supplying the weapons procurement mechanism Purl set up by NATO for Ukraine and vowed a full withdrawal of support for Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte then launched intensive backchannel efforts, repeatedly calling Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio within the two days before the statement was released.

At Rutte’s urging, France, Germany, and the UK jointly issued a statement on March 19, saying they were “willing to contribute to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz”; after that, more countries gradually joined in. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this week that he would preside over talks among 35 signatory states about forming a maritime escort alliance, but stressed that the relevant actions would take place “after fighting has stopped.”

What lies behind the threat: Europe’s refusal is “not our war”

The Hormuz Strait crisis traces back to the late-February military strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. Iran then effectively blocked the strait, cutting off the global transit route for about one-fifth of oil.

Last month, Trump urged NATO member navies to help reopen this critical waterway, but was rebuffed by multiple European countries. Several European capitals said it was “impossible” to take part in escorting while the conflict continued, and some countries were even more blunt, saying this “is not our war.”

According to three officials familiar with the discussions, Trump reacted sharply, threatening to halt supplies to the Purl mechanism. One insider said that in calls with France, Germany, and the UK, Rutte explained that Trump’s reaction to Europe’s refusal to protect the Strait of Hormuz was “quite hysterical.”

Emergency statement: NATO secretary general’s mediation helped bring about a joint position

The March 19 joint statement was cobbled together under extremely rushed circumstances. An insider said: “It was precisely Rutte who insisted on issuing the joint statement, because Trump threatened to leave Purl and fully withdraw support for Ukraine. The statement was then quickly drafted, and other countries joined afterward because there wasn’t enough time to invite everyone to sign from the start.”

NATO officials stated that the alliance would not comment on what Rutte discussed with other leaders, and would direct the media to the public statement Rutte issued on March 19. Rutte said in the statement: “I believe our allies will, as always, do everything in their power for our shared interests.”

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly also said: “President Trump has made clear that he has expressed disappointment with NATO and other allies, and as the president emphasized, ‘the United States will remember all of this.’”

For now, Ukraine weapon supplies have not been cut off. Last Friday, Rubio said that U.S. military equipment provided to Ukraine through the Purl mechanism has “so far not been affected by the war in the Middle East,” and that “no equipment has been transferred at this time.” However, Rubio did not rule out the possibility of future adjustments.

Risk notice and disclaimer

        There are risks in the market; invest cautiously. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, and it does not consider any specific investment objectives, financial conditions, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions in this article align with their specific circumstances. If you invest based on this, you bear responsibility.