Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States does not “need” support from NATO allies in its ongoing war with Iran, highlighting deepening divisions within the Western alliance.
Trump said that “most of our NATO allies” are unwilling to participate alongside the United States and Israel, despite broadly agreeing that Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. He added that the U.S. also does not require assistance from Japan, Australia, or South Korea.
“Because of the fact that we have had such military success, we no longer need, or desire, the NATO countries’ assistance we never did,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
The conflict began on February 28 with massive U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military and government facilities. Among those killed in the initial wave of attacks was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, after which his son Mojtaba Khamenei assumed leadership. Since then, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks against Israel, U.S. bases in the region, and multiple Gulf nations, while also attempting to disrupt traffic through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.
Israel has also escalated its long-running campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, raising concerns about a broader regional escalation.
European leaders have consistently refused to be drawn into the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would not participate in military operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under current conditions, emphasizing that France is “not party to the conflict.” He added that France is instead preparing for a coalition to ensure freedom of navigation once hostilities end.
Trump’s remarks underscore a growing gap between Washington and its traditional allies as the United States presses ahead with a largely unilateral approach to the war. With tensions escalating across the Middle East, the situation remains highly volatile, with no clear path to de-escalation.
