Publishing date: March 16, 2026 23:41
Last updated: March 16, 2026 23:41
Reading time: 3min – video: 2min
Is this a sign of weakness from Donald Trump? The American president is increasing pressure and asking for help from NATO and China to secure the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday evening, the head of state expressed his disappointment at the lack of enthusiasm from some countries, including France. His tone is becoming more threatening.
An impressive blaze and a column of black smoke rising in the sky of Dubai on the morning of Monday, March 16. The airport, one of the world’s major airports, has just been hit by a drone attack. This is proof, on the 17th day of the war, of the Iranian government’s capability to still carry out destructive attacks. As the conflict drags on, is Donald Trump in a deadlock? The American president criticizes the inaction of his allies, particularly within NATO, after asking for their help over the weekend.
“‘We prefer not to get involved’, they said. You mean we’ve been protecting you for 40 years and you refuse to help us with something minor?” chastised the American president. Donald Trump’s bitterness over the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. At this point, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia have not expressed willingness to send ships.
Although the American president still hopes to see some allies get involved, like France: “I think Macron will help us. We spoke yesterday. On a scale of 0 to 10, he is at 8. It’s not perfect, but it’s France,” reassured Donald Trump. He also hopes to convince the United Kingdom, which sets conditions: “The least we can do, if we send our forces into danger, is to make this decision within a legal framework and with a well-thought-out plan,” said Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
However, Donald Trump wants to act quickly as public opinion in America is getting tense. In Pennsylvania, Bruce Vick, a truck driver, explains that the rising price of gasoline is costing his company a lot: “Easily a dollar increase per gallon the first week and another 20 cents the second.” A thousand dollars more spent on gasoline every day, which could jeopardize many businesses. “If this continues for weeks, months, maybe a year, many small companies will have to close shop,” says Bruce Vick.
Under pressure on the fronts of Ukraine, Greenland, and customs duties, America’s allies are not rushing to help Donald Trump. The American president is likely paying the price for his first year in office, during which he gradually isolated the United States from their traditional allies.
