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Donald Trump has again attacked NATO, calling it "useless" and warned European member states to stay away from the Strait of Hormuz after the UK and France announced they would work to protect their ships.
The US president has been highly critical of the alliance, accusing it of being "useless when needed" and calling it a "paper tiger."
The criticism came after Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron pledged to lead a "multinational mission" aimed at protecting ships passing through the vital waterway, which Iran has now agreed to reopen for the duration of its ceasefire with the US.
"This will be strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to secure commercial shipping and support mine clearance," the British prime minister told a gathering of world leaders in Paris on Friday.
"We invite all countries with an interest in the free flow of global trade to join us. Some have already indicated their willingness to contribute. We will take this forward with a military planning conference in London next week, where we will announce more details on the composition of the mission, and over a dozen countries have already offered to contribute assets," Starmer added.
But the US president hit back immediately after the announcement, writing on Truth Social.
"Now that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we needed any help. I told them to stay away, JUST DON'T LOAD THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed!" Trump wrote.
As talks took place in the French capital, Iran said it had reopened the strait to shipping, in a move welcomed by the US president.
In another post on Truth Social, Trump thanked the Tehran regime.
"Iran has just announced that the Iran Strait is fully open and ready for full passage! Thank you!" He added that Iran has agreed "to never close the Strait of Hormuz again," Trump said.
Iran had effectively shut down the main shipping lane, vital for the world's oil supplies, since the US-Israeli bombing campaign began in late February, forcing energy and fuel prices up worldwide.
But the US blockade of Iranian ports will remain "in full force and effect" until "the moment our transaction with Iran is 100 percent complete," Trump said.
The price of oil fell sharply and global stock markets rose higher following the announcement.
The conflict in the Middle East has strained transatlantic relations, with Mr Trump repeatedly condemning NATO allies for refusing to support his military operations against Iran.
Zoti Trump inside duket njeri i mire por per politike nuk ia thote fare e kujton se bota eshte Aprentice Show ne cdo aspekt.