LONDON, March 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Sunday that NATO would face a "very bad" future if its allies fail to take action to help Washington keep the Strait of Hormuz open, Financial Times reported.
In a phone interview with the British daily, Trump again pressed European allies by urging them to join U.S. operations concerning the strait, a key global oil shipping route.
He said Europe was a major beneficiary of navigation through the waterway and should help to make sure that "nothing bad happens there." He also warned that NATO's future would be "very bad" if allies gave "no response" or a "negative response" to Washington's request.
Trump argued that the United States had previously helped Europe on the Ukraine issue and that now it was time to "see if they help us."
Trump noted he had long believed NATO was "a one-way street," meaning that the United States would stand by its allies, but they might not come to Washington's aid when needed.
Speaking of Britain, Trump said the country was often regarded as Washington's "number one ally" and its "longest serving" ally but that Britain "didn't want to come" when the United States asked for help.
He added that Britain only offered to send ships after the United States had "basically wiped out the danger capacity."
"We need these ships before we win, not after we win," Trump was quoted as saying.
According to the report, Trump said the United States was prepared to launch new strikes on Kharg Island, Iran's oil export hub, and could further target Iran's oil infrastructure.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. bases and assets across the Middle East.
As for the Strait of Hormuz, Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, said Saturday in a statement that the strait has not been militarily blocked and "is merely under control." ■
