Trump warns of ‘very bad future’ for Nato if his call for warships to police Strait of Hormuz is refused – hinting he could punish Ukraine

Donald Trump has warned that NATO has a “very bad” future if its allies reject his demands to send warships to monitor the Strait of Hormuz.

At a time when his war against Iran threatens to plunge the world into chaos and economic stagnation, the US president has raised the bar on the critical oil channel by tying the situation to Ukraine.

However, ministers in the UK risked further escalating tensions by ignoring the ‘rhetoric’ coming from the White House this morning.

Despite Trump’s claims that he has “destroyed” his military, Tehran has effectively closed the route through which approximately one-fifth of global supplies pass.

The president insisted on Saturday that Britain, France and China should ‘send ships to the region to ensure that the Bosphorus is no longer threatened by a completely decapitated country’.

England, France, Australia, Canada and Japan have previously stated that they will not comply with this request. Keir Starmer is thought to have conveyed to Mr Trump in his phone call last night that the UK was prepared to deploy drones for minesweeping purposes only.

Keir Starmer is thought to have told Mr Trump in a phone call last night that the UK was prepared to deploy drones for minesweeping purposes only.

Oil tankers near the critical Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf this week

Speaking to the Financial Times after the meeting, Mr Trump said: ‘It is only appropriate that the people who benefit from the Strait help ensure nothing bad happens there.

“We have something called NATO,” Trump said. ‘We were so sweet. We didn’t need to help them with Ukraine… but we did help them.

‘Now we will see if they will help us. Because I have been saying for a long time that we will be with them, but they will not be with us. And I’m not sure they’ll be there.’

He added: ‘If there is no response, or if there is a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.’

The president has previously insisted that the US does not need any military aid from allies such as Britain, accusing them of showing up only after the war has been ‘won’.

Mr Trump also dealt a fresh blow to Sir Keir after branding the Prime Minister a ‘no Churchill’ for refusing to take part in the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran two weeks ago.

‘The UK is the number one ally, longest serving etc. “And when I asked them to come, they didn’t want to come,” he said.

‘And as soon as we eliminated Iran’s danger capacity, they said, ‘well, we’ll send two ships,’ and I said, ‘we need these ships before we win, not after we win.’ ‘I have long said that NATO is a one-way street.’

Mr. Trump had previously questioned whether NATO countries would stand by their Article 5 commitment to collective defense; although this provision was only implemented in response to the September 11 attacks.

Downing Street said ministers were ‘discussing a range of options with our allies and partners to ensure the security of shipping in the region’.

But it appears that Britain’s only immediate contribution to unblocking the strait will be autonomous underwater vehicles based in Bahrain, which have not been tested in conflict situations.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told Times Radio: ‘There is always a lot of rhetoric in this presidency.

‘Underneath this there is a good and close relationship between the UK and the USA. I believe this will continue. We talk to each other all the time.

‘But that doesn’t mean we always have to support every intervention and every action the United States chooses to take.’