• President Trump criticized NATO allies as "cowards" for declining to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran continues to block, causing global oil prices to surge.
• Trump argued that European nations complain about high oil prices resulting from the blockade but refuse to contribute militarily to resolving the crisis.
• The diplomatic rift reflects tensions within the Western alliance over burden-sharing in the Middle East conflict and control of critical global energy infrastructure.
US president says it is ‘only appropriate’ for Europe to help, and warns failure to do so would be ‘very bad’ for Nato. Plus, meet the Americans withholding their federal income taxGood morning.Donald Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on European allies to help protect the strait of Hormuz, warning that Nato faces a “very bad” future if its members fail to come to Washington’s aid.What did Trump say? The US president told the Financial Times in an interview: “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there. If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of Nato.”Who else won? Here’s all the winners at the 98th Academy Awards.Who was remembered this year? This year’s Academy Awards featured an extended in memoriam section to honour the considerable number of Hollywood legends who have died over the past year. Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and Rob Reiner were remembered in standalone speeches, while Claudia Cardinale and Catherine O’Hara also had extended moments. James Van Der Beek and Brigitte Bardot were among stars who were snubbed from the tribute. Continue reading...
US president says it is ‘only appropriate’ for Europe to help, and warns failure to do so would be ‘very bad’ for NatoMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on European allies to help protect the strait of Hormuz, warning that Nato faces a “very bad” future if its members fail to come to Washington’s aid.The effective closure of the vital waterway by Tehran in retaliation for airstrikes by the US and Israel has proved catastrophic for global energy and trade flows, causing the largest oil supply disruption in history and soaring global oil prices. Continue reading...
• President Trump issued a stark warning to NATO allies on March 16, stating they face a "very bad future" if they do not assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
• The warning came as the US and Israel work to secure the strategic waterway, which has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict with Iran.
• Trump's ultimatum reflects growing pressure on international allies to support US-led efforts to restore normal shipping operations and stabilize global energy markets.
