Trump decries NATO as 'cowards' for not acceding to his request for Strait of Hormuz security | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
President Donald Trump on Friday criticized North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states for their perceived reluctance to respond to his call to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, calling them "cowards." Trump made the remarks in a social media post, as NATO allies have appeared reluctant to accede to Trump's request for naval assistance to help reopen the crucial waterway, which has been effectively closed by the war between the U.S., Israel and Iran. "Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! Trump then called NATO "cowards," saying that the U.S. will "remember." On Saturday, Trump called for South Korea, Japan, France, Britain and other countries to send ships to help secure the waterway. But days later, he said the U.S. no longer needs their naval assistance, in an apparent show of discomfort over their perceived reluctance. sshluck@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Trump Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees (2nd LD) N. Korea's Kim oversees combined drill involving battle tanks N.K. stamps on ruling party's 9th congress prev Trump decries NATO as 'cowards' for not acceding to his request for Strait of Hormuz security Next Trump decries NATO as 'cowards' for not acceding to his request for Strait of Hormuz security

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, March 20 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday criticized North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states for their perceived reluctance to respond to his call to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, calling them "cowards."
Trump made the remarks in a social media post, as NATO allies have appeared reluctant to accede to Trump's request for naval assistance to help reopen the crucial waterway, which has been effectively closed by the war between the U.S., Israel and Iran.
"Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn't want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner with Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on March 19, 2026, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)
"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. So easy for them to do, with so little risk," he added.
Trump then called NATO "cowards," saying that the U.S. will "remember."
On Saturday, Trump called for South Korea, Japan, France, Britain and other countries to send ships to help secure the waterway. But days later, he said the U.S. no longer needs their naval assistance, in an apparent show of discomfort over their perceived reluctance.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
Keywords
#Trump
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party'
Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms
(LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East
Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war
Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees
Most Saved
Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party'
(LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East
Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms
Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees
(2nd LD) N. Korea fires ballistic missiles as S. Korea, U.S. conduct joint drills
Most Viewed
All Categories
(LEAD) At least 50 injured in fire at Daejeon car parts plant
Downtown Seoul to enter security lockdown for massive crowd at BTS concert
(2nd LD) 53 injured, 14 unaccounted for in fire at Daejeon car parts plant
Qatar may have to declare force majeure on long-term LNG contract with S. Korea, others: report
(LEAD) Downtown Seoul braces for massive crowd at BTS comeback concert
Most Viewed More
Most Viewed Photos
N. Korean leader's daughter drives tank
N. Korean leader's daughter drives tank
N. Korea's Kim oversees combined drill involving battle tanks
N.K. stamps on ruling party's 9th congress
prev
Trump decries NATO as 'cowards' for not acceding to his request for Strait of Hormuz security
Next
Trump decries NATO as 'cowards' for not acceding to his request for Strait of Hormuz security

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- So easy for them to do, with so little risk," he added.
- But days later, he said the U.S. no longer needs their naval assistance, in an apparent show of discomfort over their perceived reluctance. sshluck@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Trump Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees (2nd LD) N.

### Implications
- Trump then called NATO "cowards," saying that the U.S. will "remember." On Saturday, Trump called for South Korea, Japan, France, Britain and other countries to send ships to help secure the waterway.
- But days later, he said the U.S. no longer needs their naval assistance, in an apparent show of discomfort over their perceived reluctance. sshluck@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Trump Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees (2nd LD) N.
- Korea, U.S. conduct joint drills Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) At least 50 injured in fire at Daejeon car parts plant Downtown Seoul to enter security lockdown for massive crowd at BTS concert (2nd LD) 53 injured, 14 unaccounted for in fire at Daejeon car parts plant Qatar may have to declare force majeure on long-term LNG contract with S.
- Korea, others: report (LEAD) Downtown Seoul braces for massive crowd at BTS comeback concert Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers trump, nato, seoul topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 569.