by Tara Suter – 03/16/26 9:20 AM ET
The Hill’s Headlines — March 16, 2026
President Trump said on Sunday the NATO alliance faces a “very bad” future if countries do not answer his call to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump told the Financial Times.
Trump also said that Europe and China rely more on Persian Gulf oil than the U.S.
“If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” Trump said, according to the news outlet.
On Sunday, United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz said the U.S. was pushing for international allies to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict against Iran.
“President Trump is calling upon the world, saying the entire world is affected,” Waltz told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” “Iran can’t hold your economies hostage, and we certainly welcome, encourage and even demand their participation to help their own economies.”
The day before Waltz’s appearance on CNN, Trump announced that “many countries” would deploy war ships to patrol the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict.
“Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.”
Updated at 9:43 a.m. EDT
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