US President Donald Trump has once again called on NATO allies to join efforts to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, warning the alliance of a challenging future. In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump highlighted that the US was not obliged to help Europe or Ukraine, but did so nonetheless.
According to Vitaly Portnikov, these statements reflect Trump’s longstanding criticism of the North Atlantic Alliance and a misunderstanding of the nature of allied relationships. Portnikov points out that American aid to Ukraine in the war against Russia aimed not only to provide support but also to deter Russia’s imperial ambitions, backed by China’s shadow.
Portnikov draws parallels between the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Ukraine, emphasizing that authoritarian regimes like those in Iran and Russia, as well as their allies, pose a global threat. He questions Trump’s logic in demanding European allies’ participation in Middle Eastern conflicts without always coordinating US actions with them.
He adds that escalation in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global energy and economic crisis, with additional risks such as the potential blockade of other strategic straits like the Bab-el-Mandeb.
Portnikov believes that Trump might use the potential escalation for further criticism of NATO. He also interprets Trump’s approach as attempting to align more closely with authoritarian regimes instead of working with democracies.
Finally, the author stresses that genuine US national interests are strongly tied to alliances with Europe and the democratic world, and that Trump’s policy may undermine those interests.
