US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has criticised European allies, including the UK, for what he described as a lack of action over the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, telling them to have “less fancy conferences and get in a boat”. Speaking at the Pentagon, Mr Hegseth dismissed UK and French-led efforts to secure the critical Gulf waterway as “silly”, and called for more loyalty from allies, saying the partnership was “not a one-way street”.
The Strait of Hormuz, a major route for oil and gas supplies, has been effectively closed since Iran retaliated against US and Israeli strikes by imposing a blockade. Although President Donald Trump has extended an uneasy ceasefire, both the US and Iran continue to block shipping, exacerbating a global energy crisis. UK and French-led talks in Paris and London aimed at forging an international mission to reopen the waterway were met with scepticism by Mr Hegseth.
“This should not be America’s fight alone,” Mr Hegseth said. “Europe and Asia have benefited from our protection for decades, but the time for free riding is over.” He added that Europe and Asia needed the strait far more than the US, and that they should “start doing less talking” and take direct action. His comments come amid worsening transatlantic relations, with reports that the US could review its stance on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands as punishment for Sir Keir Starmer’s lack of support for the war in Iran.
Mr Hegseth’s remarks are likely to strain ties further, just days before the King and Queen arrive in the US for a four-day state visit. The defence secretary warned that countries without the capability to act would remain “at the behest of a country like Iran”, with only the US military able to intervene effectively. He called on European allies to treat the situation as a “wake-up call”.
