LATIKA M BOURKE: Donald Trump blasts Australia, Japan and NATO allies over Iran war, Strait of Hormuz standoff

President Donald Trump has lashed out at the US’s allies, including Australia, for not sending military support for his war in Iran.

After boasting that many countries were eager to contribute military support for his war in Iran to reopen the vital transit route for oil, the Strait of Hormuz, he said that he had been informed that most NATO allies were against the idea.

“I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO, where we spend Hundreds of Billions of Dollars per year protecting these same Countries, to be a one way street — We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need,” Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

“Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer “need,” or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea.

“In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”

“We helped with Ukraine, and they don’t help with Iran and they all acknowledge that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon,” the President said later during a media appearance with the Irish Taoiseach Michael Martin.

After becoming President, Mr Trump stopped all weapons aid to Kyiv and demanded Europe and partners buy US weapons for Ukraine instead. He has also eased sanctions on Russia.

But his latest outburst constitutes his strongest comments directed towards his perceived inaction from Australia over Iran to date.

Australia has sent an E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to the Middle East but at the request of the United Arab Emirates. Defence Minister Richard Marles says the plane is operating for defensive purposes, reporting back to a central hub in Qatar that involves the United States.

But the Australian government has said it will not send a warship, even if one is requested by the US.

Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson said the opposition had not been briefed on any request for naval assistance in the Middle East by the United States.

“It is for the government to comment on any request and their response. We continue to support the deployment of an E-7A Wedgetail to the UEA,” he said.

“Any further deployment is a sovereign choice for Australia, which must be informed by our national interest and the availability and capacity of relevant platforms. While we have a strong interest in the free movement of shipping through the Persian Gulf, Australia’s primary region of interest remains the Indo-Pacific.

“If we are unable to deploy naval assets because of their limited availability or ability to operate in contested maritime environments like the Strait of Hormuz, that is yet more evidence Australia must urgently increase defence spending to ensure we are able to meet the current strategic circumstances.”

Mr Trump’s post also sets up a challenging first White House encounter for Japan’s freshly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who meets Mr Trump in Washington on Thursday, who has also downplayed the idea of sending warships to the Strait.

Japan is constitutionally bound by its post-war constitution that forbids it from ever entering into acts of aggression.

Bryce Wakefield, CEO of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, said that Trump risked making a bad situation even worse.

“Uniquely among US allies, Japan might play a proactive diplomatic role in ending the conflict, as Tokyo has very productive, pragmatic ties to Iran—in fact it is already engaged in talks with Tehran,” Dr Wakefield said.

“Trump’s fixation on bashing his allies, and his buffoonish approach to global politics, likely means he will overlook the opportunities the meeting with the Japanese prime minister will present him.”