President Donald Trump expressed disappointment Tuesday over NATO allies’ refusal to send ships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway under threat from Iran.
Trump had called on world leaders to assist in escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and an undeclared conflict with Iran, but those requests were declined. He said that the U.S. should not forget this lack of support.
“We spend trillions of dollars on NATO over the years, it’s one of the reasons we have deficits,” Trump said. “When they don’t help us, it’s certainly something that we should think about.”
NATO’s total budget for 2024 was about $4.6 billion, with the U.S. contributing approximately 15.8%, or $567 million, according to NATO records. In comparison, total U.S. military spending for the year approached $1 trillion.
Trump made these remarks during an Oval Office meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, on St. Patrick’s Day.
Trump said he doesn’t need approval from Congress to rethink the U.S. relationship with NATO.
“I don’t need Congress for that decision,” Trump said in response to a question from The Center Square on Tuesday. “When you say ‘re-think,’ I have nothing currently in mind, but I’m not exactly thrilled.”
Trump declined to respond to questions about possible consequences.
“So I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake,” the U.S. president said. “And I’ve long said that, you know, I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us. So this is a, this was a great test, because we don’t need them, but they should have been there. The other thing is, and I think, you know, very important, we didn’t have to be there for Ukraine.”
The ongoing conflict with Iran has rattled global markets, sending oil prices to their highest levels since April 2024. If hostilities continue, experts warn that economic strain will deepen, increasing the burden on U.S. taxpayers.
With U.S. military operations costing more than $1 billion per day, analysts say a prolonged war could drive a significant increase in defense spending and further impact the federal budget.
The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 after nuclear talks with the Islamic Republic failed to produce a deal. Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have laid out four military objectives: Destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, neutralizing its navy, preventing the development of nuclear weapons, and ensuring the regime can’t direct terrorism beyond its borders.
