FEATURE | NATO chief to allies: Trump wants immediate, concrete Hormuz pledges

Strait of Hormuz in focus

Although Trump said on Tuesday the attacks on Iran would be paused under a two-week ceasefire, the fallout from the conflict has continued to strain ties within NATO.

"We note the frustration in Washington, but they did not consult allies either before or after starting this war," said one of the diplomats.

"NATO as such would not play a role in the war against Iran, but allies want to be helpful in seeking longer-term solutions for Hormuz. With negotiations ongoing with Iran, this could be helpful," the diplomat said.

Trump posted on social media after meeting Rutte on Wednesday in capitalised letters that "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again."

A senior European official said, "The NATO community is more worried right now than confident," and, "the meeting did not take the worry away".