As we reported, President Donald Trump asked our NATO allies and others to help contribute to a coalition of escort ships to help ensure safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz.
But he was rebuffed by some of the NATO allies, like Germany, who said that they didn't start the military action, so why should they be involved? These are some of the same folks who thought the United States should pay endlessly for Ukraine, despite that not being "our war.'
They had a bit of a karmic wake-up call when the hotel where their European Union Advisory Mission is housed was hit by an Iran-backed drone in Baghdad.
European Countries Get Bitten by Karma After They Turn Down Trump Request for Ships for Strait
But now Trump is also calling their bluff, because the bottom line is that the U.S. ships very little through the Strait — it's far more important to others. So Trump posted on Truth Social that if allies want to play the weak-kneed weasel game, maybe the U.S. should just not provide any escorts, and just let the countries that use it be responsible for it.
NEWS: President Trump on Truth Social: “I wonder what would happen if we “finished off” what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called “Strait?” That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and… pic.twitter.com/B3P7mbu1mP
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 18, 2026
"That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!" Trump stated.
Could he be more blunt?
But it sounds like people were getting the message, because then we got this response from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
🚨 BREAKING: After pressure from President Trump, NATO SecGen Mark Rutte says allies are RUSHING to find a way to secure the Strait of Hormuz
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2026
"I have been in contact with many allies...Strait has to open!"
"Allies are discussing how to do that. What is the best way to do it,… pic.twitter.com/5vKhGAKMU6
"I have been in contact with many allies," Rutte said during a NATO exercise in Norway.
"We all agree, of course, that Strait has to open up again. And what I know is that allies are working together, discussing how to do that, what is the best way to do it. They're working on that collectively to find a way forward."
Rutte also explained the ballistic missile and nuclear capability had been "severely degraded."
Gee, what happened to "We didn't start it"? Sounds like Trump shamed them into movement. Rutte gets Trump, so he knows they have to pony up.
Others are showing up some of our European allies. As we reported, India is providing warships to protect their own ships; it is one of the biggest shippers through the Strait, along with China.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) may also stand up. They've been hit with attacks by Iran, and they're not happy about it.
The United Arab Emirates may join a U.S.-led effort to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran all but shut the vital waterway to ships as Tehran wages war with Israel and the United States, a senior Emirati official said on Tuesday.
Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said talks were ongoing and no formal plan had been agreed, but that "big countries" in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe bore responsibility for ensuring the flow of trade and energy.
As we noted too, the U.S. took out most of the military capability first, and now they're softening up any possible response. They hit missile batteries on the coast along the Strait with 5000-pound deep penetrator munitions.
So they're clearly preparing.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
Help us report the truth about the Trump administration’s decisive actions to keep Americans safe and bring peace to the world. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member