Trump warns NATO of ‘very bad’ future if allies don’t help US in Strait of Hormuz
President Trump said it would be ‘very bad for the future of NATO’ if allies did not help him secure the Strait of Hormuz – a critical trade route for global oil shipping off Iran.
When asked what help he wanted, Mr Trump replied, ‘whatever it takes’ adding that the US needed minesweepers from Europe, which owns many more than the US Navy. The Strait has been laden with mines by Iran to close off the Strait as part of an economic attack designed to cripple US war efforts.
Mr Trump added that he expected China to also chip in and help as it too is reliant on the oil from the Strait, suggesting he could delay the upcoming summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping if the nation does not agree to assist.
The president is said he is in talks with ‘about seven countries’, asking for support in ‘policing’ the Strait, adding he ‘will remember’ if they refuse.
The Strait of Hormuz is still closed this morning and the price of oil today is still over $100 a barrel and fluctuating.
Anna McDonald of Aubrey Capital Management told the Today Programme this morning that the oil price is not ‘steady’ but has not ‘been ‘swinging around as much as it has been recently.’
This has meant markets now open in the far east are now ‘actually pretty stable.’
