Trump: we no longer ‘need’ NATO countries’ help

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States no longer needs assistance from NATO countries after most allies reportedly refused to participate in a military operation against Iran.

Trump said the majority of NATO allies informed Washington that they do not want to take part in a military operation targeting Iran.

“However, their position does not surprise me, because I have always considered NATO, where we spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year protecting the same countries, to be a one-way street: we protect them, but they do nothing for us, especially when it matters most,” Trump said.

The President also claimed that Iran’s naval forces, air force, air defence systems, radars and “virtually all of its leaders” have been destroyed and that they will no longer be able to threaten American allies.

“After achieving such military success, we no longer ‘need’ help from NATO countries - we never needed it! The same applies to Japan, Australia or South Korea. As the President of the United States, the most powerful country in the world, I declare that we do not need anyone’s help,” Trump said.

Earlier, Trump called on all countries that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz to send their forces to the Middle East and join the operation against Iran.