Trump says NATO faces a "very bad future" if allies don't help secure the Straits of Hormuz.
Firstly, why, Mr President? NATO countries are not obliged to get involved in an illegal war that you started and which is now backfiring massively? Deal with it yourself.
Secondly, you also crowed that the war was "very complete, pretty much" and you didn't need any help.
Finally, what allies? You have none left, except perhaps Russia and Venezuela. Bother them instead.
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Article 5 has not been and can't be invoked so the allies aren't required to do anything. It's not a war they started or indeed wanted. The UK was still involved in the negotiation for a deal until the war started. Jonathan Powell the UK national security advisor says the last offer before the talks were abandoned was surprising and close to being resolved.
Let's remind about article 5
Key Aspects of Article 5:
Core Principle: It is a mutual defense pact, requiring all NATO allies to assist any member under attack.
Trigger: It applies solely to armed attacks occurring within NATO’s jurisdiction (Europe, North America, North Atlantic, or specifically named territories).
Application: It was invoked for the first and only time in NATO’s history following the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States in 2001.
Flexibility: While it obliges members to respond, each nation determines how it will contribute. The response is not automatically a unified military response.
Actually only NATO member who's sovereign territory has been attacked in this conflict is Turkey and arguably UK via the base on Cyprus.
It's not in the North Atlantic, it's in a gulf off the Indian Ocean so sorry but we've fought wars too often in those areas which haven't really been well conceived and this is I wager is the least well conceived.
