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President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of European allies this week, warning that the United States could abandon long-standing security commitments and leave the continent to fend for itself, including in protecting vital energy routes like the Strait of Hormuz.

The sharp rhetoric marks a familiar pattern for European leaders, who have repeatedly faced similar warnings during Trump’s presidency.

In remarks delivered through social media posts and interviews over several days, Trump portrayed Europe as weak, ineffective and unappreciative of U.S. support. He suggested that the consequences could be severe, including the potential withdrawal of American military backing and diminished cooperation on economic and energy security.

His statements came in quick succession. European nations should “go get your own oil” in the increasingly dangerous Strait of Hormuz, he said. The United States “will REMEMBER” France’s refusal to be helpful in America’s war on Iran, he wrote. NATO, he told a British journalist, is a “paper tiger” and the United States will reconsider its participation in the alliance.

The comments triggered renewed चिंता among European officials, echoing last year’s tensions when Trump floated the idea of invading Greenland before later stepping back.

Although Trump has previously backed away from threats to sever ties with NATO and Europe, the intensity of his latest remarks—delivered amid a costly conflict with Iran—has raised fresh concerns among U.S. allies about whether his position may harden this time.

“This isn’t the first time he’s ⁠done this, ⁠and since it’s a recurring phenomenon, you can probably judge the consequences for yourself,” Stefan Kornelius, spokesman for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, told reporters in Berlin. “It’s not my place here ⁠to comment on the American president’s words. I simply want to state on behalf ⁠of the German government that we ⁠are, of course, committed to NATO.”

Trump’s latest threat to withdraw from NATO, made in an interview with The Telegraph, appeared tied to frustration over Europe’s refusal to support U.S. military action against Iran. He argued that while the United States had defended Ukraine for Europe, those same countries “weren’t there for us” during the Iran conflict.

Asked whether he was considering pulling out of NATO, Trump said it was “beyond reconsideration.”

“I was never swayed by NATO,’’ Mr. Trump said. “I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that, too, by the way.”

A U.S. departure from NATO would significantly alter Europe’s security framework, which has relied heavily on American military power for decades. Without U.S. support, both NATO and European nations could face challenges defending Ukraine and deterring Russian aggression along their own borders.

Trevor Taylor, emeritus professor at Cranfield University, said Trump’s rhetoric reflects a broader trend of confrontational messaging toward Europe from his administration.

Vice President JD Vance has accused leaders of major European countries of “retreat from fundamental values” on issues like migration, democracy and free speech. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News on Tuesday that if NATO countries refused to allow Americans to use their bases, then “that’s a hard one to stay engaged in.” Mr. Trump said in his administration’s official National Security Strategy last year that he was committed to “ending the perception, and preventing the reality, of NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance.”

Taken together, those comments “have a cumulative effect, which has increased the doubt about the reliability of the United States as an ally, and even raised some questions about whether it should actually be seen, in many respects, as a threat,” said Mr. Taylor, director of the Defense, Industries & Society Program at the Royal United Services Institute.

The geopolitical stakes are heightened by overlapping conflicts, including the ongoing war between the United States and Israel against Iran and Russia’s fourth year of fighting in Ukraine. Trump’s posture has added uncertainty to Europe’s efforts to coordinate a unified defense strategy. While NATO members have increased military spending under U.S. pressure, analysts say the buildup may still fall short of what would be needed without American support.

Trump has also expressed frustration over Europe’s reluctance to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian actions have disrupted shipping and driven up global oil and gas prices.

British officials said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper plans to convene a virtual meeting with representatives from 35 countries on Thursday to discuss reopening the critical shipping lane. Additional technical meetings are expected to follow.

A day earlier, Trump challenged European nations to “build up some delayed courage” and begin “learning how to fight for yourself.” He warned that the United States would no longer assist in protecting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz because European countries declined to join strikes against Iran.

“Go get your own oil!” he wrote on social media.

He directed the message at “all of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz,” singling out France as “VERY UNHELPFUL,” and criticizing Britain, “which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran.”

“The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!” he said.

In his interview with The Telegraph, Trump also took aim at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, questioning the strength of the U.K. military.

“You don’t even have a navy,” he said. “You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work.”

Starmer, like other European leaders, has been cautious in responding, balancing domestic pressure to push back against the risk of escalating tensions with Washington.

Speaking at a previously scheduled news conference Wednesday, shortly after Trump’s remarks were published, Starmer declined to engage directly with the criticism and reaffirmed his decision to keep Britain largely out of the Iran conflict.

“Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I’m going to act in the British national interest in the decisions that I make,” Mr. Starmer said. “That’s why I’ve been absolutely clear that this is not our war and we’re not going to get dragged into it.”

He also avoided directly addressing the NATO withdrawal threat, emphasizing instead the alliance’s long-standing role.

“NATO is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen, and it has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to NATO,” he said.

Still, Starmer signaled that shifting global dynamics may require Europe to rely less on the United States in the future.

“It is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union,” he said.

He added that Britain and the European Union would hold a new summit aimed at strengthening security and economic ties strained since the Brexit vote nearly a decade ago.