The Steady Drip: Trump: NATO a 'Paper Tiger' on Strait of Hormuz (Connecting the Dots: The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, NATO & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Trump: NATO a 'Paper Tiger' on Strait of Hormuz (Connecting the Dots: The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, NATO & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Newsmax.com

By Nicole Weatherholtz | Friday, 20 March 2026 12:35 PM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/donald-trump-nato-iran/2026/03/20/id/1250209/

President Donald Trump on Friday blasted NATO and key European allies, calling the alliance "a paper tiger" and accusing its members of cowardice for refusing to back efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz while the United States and Israel continue military strikes against Iran.

"Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "They didn't want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran.

"Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don't want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices."

Although Trump has argued the conflict is effectively over and that Iran's military has been severely weakened, he has stopped short of formally declaring victory.

"So easy for them to do, with so little risk,"Trump wrote. "COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!"

Trump's criticism came after Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands signaled Thursday that they were prepared to assist in keeping the vital shipping lane open.

"We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait," the countries' leaders wrote in a letter. "We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning."

The letter did not specify what role those countries would play in any Hormuz security effort. The strait carries about 20% of the world's daily oil supply, and the joint statement also voiced "deep concern" over the effect of Iranian strikes on global energy markets.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are NATO members.

Trump has repeatedly pressed NATO and European allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and has urged several countries to take part in the military campaign, though they have so far resisted direct involvement.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday he believes the alliance and its members will ultimately reach a solution to restore passage through the strategic waterway.

"I'm confident that allies, as always, will do everything in support of our shared interest as we always do," he said.

An effective Iranian blockade has paralyzed commercial shipping through the crucial maritime waterway, which in peacetime sees a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas pass through it.

Global oil prices have spiked as a result of the war, which began Feb. 28 with joint strikes on Iran from the U.S. and Israel, leading Tehran to retaliate with strikes across the Gulf region.

Connecting the Dots:

United Kingdom (UK)
David Cameron is the prime minister for the United Kingdom (UK), the leader for the Conservative Party (UK), and his security adviser is William J. Bratton.

James A. Messina is an adviser for the Conservative Party (UK) and was the deputy White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

David Plouffe was a senior adviser to the president for the Barack Obama administration, and a partner at AKP&D Message and Media.

Michael C. Donilon was a counselor to the VP for the Barack Obama administration, and a partner at AKP&D Message and Media.

David Axelrod was the senior adviser to the president for the Barack Obama administration, is the co-founder of AKP&D Message and Media and an adviser for the British Labor Party.

British Labor Party is an AKP&D Message and Media client.

Ed Miliband is the leader of the British Labor Party, a member of the British Parliament, David Miliband’s brother and was an energy secretary for the United Kingdom (UK).

David Miliband is Ed Miliband’s brother, the president & CEO for the International Rescue Committee, a distinguished senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and was the foreign secretary; secretary of state for the enironment; minister for schools for the United Kingdom (UK).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

David Miliband is Ed Miliband’s brother, a distinguished senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, the president & CEO for the International Rescue Committee and was the foreign secretary; secretary of state for the enironment; minister for schools for the United Kingdom (UK).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for and the Center for American Progress and the International Rescue Committee.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Madeleine K. Albright was a director at the Center for American Progress, an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank)

William H. Draper III was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and is William H. Draper Jr’s son.

William H. Draper Jr. was William H. Draper III’s father and a U.S. ambassador for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Wesley K. Clark was the supreme allied commander – Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Robert E. Hunter was a U.S. ambassador for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Norman W. Ray was the assistant secretary general for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

James L. Jones Jr. was supreme allied commander - Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the national security adviser for the Barack Obama administration and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George A. Joulwan was the supreme allied commander for NATO in Europe and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

R. Nicholas Burns was a U.S. permanent representative for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Andrew Goodpaster was a supreme allied commander Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the chairman for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

James G. Stavridis was a supreme allied commander Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

France

George Soros’s wedding reception in 2013 and Christine Lagarde attended.

Christine Lagarde attended George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, was the finance minister of France and is a managing director at the International Monetary Fund.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn was a managing director for the International Monetary Fund and the minister of economy for France.

Timothy F. Geithner was a director of policy development & review for the International Monetary Fund, an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and John A. Thain was his unofficial adviser.

John A. Thain was Timothy F. Geithner’s unofficial adviser and is a director at the French-American Foundation.

Felix G. Rohatyn is a director at the French-American Foundation and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Felix G. Rohatyn is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and was a U.S. ambassador for France.

Howard H. Leach was the U.S. ambassador for France, a board member for the Haas School of Business, and a regent for the University of California.

Laura D'Andrea Tyson is a professor at the Haas School of Business and was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Richard C. Blum was a board member at the Haas School of Business, a regent for the University of California, married to Senator Dianne Feinstein and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

C. Douglas Dillon was the chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a U.S. ambassador for France.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ivo H. Daalder was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) U.S. permanent representative.

John R. Allen is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was the supreme allied commander Europe nominee for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Germany

Rozanne L. Ridgway was a U.S. ambassador for Germany and a co-chair for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Richard R. Burt was a U.S. ambassador for Germany and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).