President Trump on Tuesday attacked European allies for not doing more to support the U.S. in its war with Iran and signaled they will have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on their own.
Why it matters: This was the third time in recent days that Trump signaled publicly he could end the war in Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
- The U.S. would be leaving other countries to clean up a hugely consequential economic quagmire and restore the flow of roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply.
- When asked about Trump's post on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stopped short of calling the strait's reopening a core objective.
- He stressed that while the U.S. is setting the conditions for reopening the strait, it is not solely a U.S. problem. "Other countries should pay attention when the president speaks," he said.
What he is saying: "All of those countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
- He added that the U.K. and other countries will have "to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us."
- Trump stressed that after four weeks of U.S. attacks on Iran "the hard part is done."
- "Go get your own oil!" he wrote.
In a second post minutes later, Trump attacked France for denying passage through French airspace for U.S. planes carrying ammunition to Israel.
- "France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the 'Butcher of Iran' who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!" he wrote.
- According to a source familiar with the matter, the plane was supposed to fly through French airspace over the weekend.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised the issue with his French counterpart on the sidelines of the G7 meeting on Friday, but was rejected.
Driving the news: Several European countries refused to allow the U.S. to use their territory as a launching pad for attacks against Iran or even for transit of military supplies.
- This week, Spain said it refused to allow U.S. military planes to use its airspace. Italy also refused to let U.S. military planes land at one of its bases en route to the Middle East, Corriere della Sera reported Tuesday.
- The U.K. and France have been more willing to cooperate, with both countries helping Gulf states intercept Iranian drones and missiles.
- The U.K. allows the U.S. to use some of its air bases for strikes in Iran, and France expressed openness to lead a multinational task force for the Strait of Hormuz once fighting subsides.
Behind the scenes: During the G7 meeting in France last Friday, Secretary of State Rubio stressed the U.S. doesn't need G7 countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but wants its allies to join a maritime task force to police the strait after the war is over.
- "Rubio said that the U.S. will need us in the next phase to escort ships or just to have an international presence in the Strait of Hormuz to show the Iranians they don't control the strait. Everyone agreed," a source told Axios.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with Secretary Hegseth's comments.
