Donald Trump has demanded that America’s Nato allies send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz within days or risk permanent harm to the alliance, saying words are no longer enough. The Telegraph has more.

The US President was expecting firm military commitments from European leaders within days, Der Spiegel reported on Thursday.

In an apparent reference to his demand, Trump posted on Truth Social that Nato members would not act “unless they have pressure placed upon them”.

A Nato spokesman added that the US expected “concrete commitments and action to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait”.

Mark Rutte, Nato’s Secretary-General, met Trump in Washington on Wednesday. They reportedly discussed the plans, which were then passed on to European leaders, who were warned that mere political support would no longer suffice.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister said on Thursday that the strait was “open” despite traffic having remained at a virtual standstill since the temporary ceasefire was agreed.

Tehran indicated that it would start charging fees for ships transiting the vital waterway, in a move that has been met with criticism in Europe. …

Nato chief Mark Rutte insisted that Washington’s allies “are doing everything” Donald Trump has requested to strengthen the alliance.

Giving an address in Washington, he said that Nato partners were taking part in coordinated effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and “providing a massive amount of support”.

“When it came time to provide the logistical and other support the United States ‌needed ‌in Iran, ⁠some allies were a bit slow, to say the least. In fairness, they were also a ⁠bit surprised. To maintain the element of surprise for the initial strikes, President Trump opted not to inform allies ahead ​of time,” Rutte said during ‌a speech in Washington.

“But what I see, when I look across Europe today, is allies providing ‌a massive ​amount of ⁠support,” he added. “Nearly without exception, allies are doing everything the United ⁠States is asking. They have ​heard and are responding to President Trump’s requests.”

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, responded that it was “unfair” of Donald Trump to accuse Europe of not going enough to help the US in its war against Iran.

“I feel that this is really unfair. Of course we can all do more, but then the question is, we also have our security theatre in Europe. We have Russia’s war against Ukraine going on for four years, we haven’t seen really the Gulf countries helping us there, whereas it can’t be only one-way street,” she told CNN.

She argued Europe did not create the situation the region, and yet still it is doing “a lot”, including providing air defences to the region, protecting the Red Sea and supporting the Lebanese Government.

Worth reading in full.