The FT said Trump demanded NATO help reopen the strait, which Iran has effectively blocked, but several European countries refused.
Three officials familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that Trump threatened to stop supplies to Ukraine that flow through the PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) mechanism, financed by Kyiv’s European partners. After that, at the urging of NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, a group of countries, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, issued a March 19 statement saying they were prepared to “play their part” in guaranteeing safe passage through the strait.
“It was Rutte who insisted on the joint statement because Trump had threatened to withdraw from PURL and from Ukraine in general,” the FT quoted one source.
“The statement was then quickly put together, and other countries joined in afterwards because there was not enough time to invite everyone to sign up straight away.”
Two officials told the FT that in the two days before the statement was released, Rutte repeatedly spoke by phone with Trump and with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Another official said Rutte told France, Germany, and Britain that Trump was “rather hysterical” over Europe’s refusal to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier on April 1, Trump said he was seriously considering withdrawing
the United States from NATO after allies declined to join the Iran war.