Trump says NATO faces ‘very bad’ future if allies don't help open Hormuz

Trump warns NATO's future is at risk if allies don't assist in opening the Strait of Hormuz amid rising oil prices.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday (March 15, 2026) that NATO faces a "very bad" future if U.S. allies fail to help open the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil transport conduit effectively shut by Iran in the West Asia war.

In a brief interview with The Financial Times, Mr. Trump said that as the United States has aided Ukraine in the war with Russia, he expects Europe to help on the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure has sent energy prices soaring around the world.

"If there's no response or if it's a negative response I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO," said Mr. Trump, who over the years has criticized the alliance as freeloading on U.S. largesse.

Mr. Trump also said an upcoming summit in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping could be delayed as he presses for China's help to open the strait.

"We'd like to know before" the summit, Mr. Trump said, noting that China as well as many European countries rely more than the United States on oil flowing from the Gulf.

"It's only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there," Mr. Trump said.