US President Donald Trump has warned NATO allies that the military alliance, which includes Canada, will face “extremely dire” consequences if the military alliance, which includes Canada, does not help it defend the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked since the start of the war.
“It’s only appropriate that the people who are the beneficiaries of the Straits help make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump told the Financial Times.
“I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO if there is no response or if it is a negative response.”
Trump said the US was “hitting hard” on Iran.
“They have nothing but trouble in the strait … these people are beneficiaries and they should help us police it,” he said, adding that “China should also help,” referring to China’s energy dependence on oil from the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz two weeks ago after the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran, setting off a continuing wave of repeated Iranian attacks across the Middle East and on neighboring Gulf states.
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About one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage of water between Iran and Oman.
Trump warned that Washington could launch further attacks on Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, saying US forces could target its oil infrastructure if necessary.
“We can hit it in five minutes,” he said. “And they can’t do anything about it.”
Trump criticized Britain’s response after speaking with Prime Minister Keir Stormer.
“The UK can be considered the number one ally … and when I asked them to come, they didn’t want to come,” Trump told the Financial Times, adding that Britain had offered to send the ships only after the US had already reduced Iran’s military capabilities.
Both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Defense Minister David McGuinty have said Canada has no intention of participating in US-led military operations in Iran.
“Canada was not consulted, did not participate and has no plans to participate in the aggressive actions against Iran being undertaken by the US and Israel,” PMO Reading said last week.
Carney has previously said that the question surrounding Canada’s potential future involvement is “fundamentally hypothetical,” given that the conflict could spread very widely.
“One can never rule out participation,” he said during a visit to Australia earlier this month.
– with files from Reuters
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(tags to translate)Iran(T)Iran War(T)Strait of Hormuz(T)Canada(T)US News(T)World
