US President Donald Trump intends to increase pressure on European allies to secure their military support for security in the Strait of Hormuz, reports Der Spiegel magazine.
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According to exclusive information from the German magazine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has informed European capitals that President Trump expects “concrete commitments” in the coming days on the deployment of warships or other military assets by Europe, stressing that political commitments such as those made since the beginning of the war are no longer considered sufficient.
As Spiegel points out, “several European diplomats, briefed after the NATO secretary general’s meeting with Donald Trump, described the US demands as an ultimatum.”
The German government, welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire yesterday, once again expressed its willingness to contribute to a joint effort to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but it sets as preconditions a strong UN mandate and a lasting ceasefire or even a negotiated ceasefire.
At the same time, according to a Wall Street Journal report, the US president is drawing up lists of European partners who supported him in the war against Iran and those who opposed him, with the aim of then withdrawing US troops from the countries on the second list.
Germany has not imposed restrictions on US use of major bases in recent operations, but Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Berlin’s stance recently, especially the position of federal government officials who have argued that “this war is not ours”.
