Trump administration sidelines, threatens Europe in Iran war: EU flounders in new world order

President Trump is demanding that European allies help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to do so will be "very bad for the future of NATO," as the US and Israel conduct ongoing strikes on Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signaled the Trump administration will pursue its own security priorities regardless of European input, deepening tensions between Washington and EU capitals over Middle East policy. The ultimatum reflects Trump's broader pattern of pressure on allies, following disputes over Greenland and trade tariffs, and underscores a shift toward unilateral American decision-making on major security questions. Europe's fragmented response has exposed the bloc's weakness in coordinating a unified position on the Iran crisis and competing US demands. The standoff tests NATO cohesion at a moment when the administration is prioritizing American strategic interests over traditional transatlantic consensus.