Trump says US does not need Nato after being rebuffed over strait of Hormuz

Amid escalation of Middle East crisis, US president describes rejection of call for help as a ‘foolish mistake’ Donald Trump has said the US does not need Nato after being rebuffed by a number of the organisation’s member countries over his appeal for a multinational naval force to reopen the key strait of Hormuz trade route closed by Iran. Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, the US president described the rejection of his calls as a “very foolish mistake”, adding without evidence: “Everyone agrees with us, but they don’t want to help. And we, you know, we as the United States have to remember that because we think it’s pretty shocking.” Trump added that he thought Europe would have sent minesweepers to assist with the operation in the strait, adding that it was “not a big deal” but was “unfair” to the US. Once again among Trump’s targets was the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, who Trump said he was disappointed with, adding that the relationship with the UK had been good before Starmer took office. The US president’s remarks came after Starmer said on Monday that while the UK would be “taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be dra