US President Donald Trump has said he is strongly considering withdrawing the United States from Nato, describing the alliance as a “paper tiger” in an interview with The Telegraph. His comments came amid a growing rift with allies over Iran, with Trump accusing the UK and other partners of failing to support American military action in the region.
Trump also warned that if a deal is not reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz – through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes – he would order the bombing of Iran “back to the Stone Ages”. The Iranian foreign ministry has dismissed claims from Trump that Tehran had requested a ceasefire, calling them “false and baseless”.
The US vice-president, JD Vance, is reportedly in talks with intermediaries about a potential pause in hostilities in exchange for reopening the strait, according to the Axios news outlet. Trump earlier told reporters that the US could withdraw from the conflict within “two to three weeks”, though he later refused to give a timeline.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has rejected calls to involve the UK in the conflict, stating that “this is not our war”. Speaking at a press conference, he praised Nato as “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen”. Chancellor Rachel Reeves expressed anger at Trump’s decision to go to war, telling the BBC she was “angry that Donald Trump has chosen to go to war in the Middle East”.
Sir Keir has announced that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host an international meeting on Thursday to consider “all viable diplomatic and political measures” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after 35 countries signed a statement supporting safe passage for shipping. Germany has also reaffirmed its commitment to Nato following Trump’s remarks.
