President Trump publicly accused NATO allies of being 'cowards' for not helping to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and urged partners to deploy warships and guarantee passage, while the Pentagon has sent additional U.S. forces to the Middle East. He subsequently suggested he may withdraw the United States from NATO, signaling a possible major shift in U.S. commitments that compounds diplomatic friction. The new reporting that he is weighing punitive measures against some NATO countries raises the prospect that his criticism could translate into concrete penalties, increasing the risk of a deeper rupture with allies and making unified action less likely.
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