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 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 that was an unusual step to take.

“If a request is made by the United States, we should very carefully consider it against our national interest and the availability of suitable naval vessels,” Mr Paterson said.

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.