Hegseth rips European allies of US for their inaction on Strait of Hormuz

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggests traditional US allies in Europe are “freeriding” and being disloyal by not using their own forces to open the Strait of Hormuz that’s been closed because of the Iran war.

“We are not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do,” Hegseth insists. He mocks a recent European confab, saying US allies “might want to start doing less talking” instead of holding “a fancy conference” and “a silly conference.”

Iran’s maneuver to choke off the strait has disrupted global energy supplies — especially in Europe, where many leaders remain frustrated. French President Emmanuel Macron said at one point that the US can’t complain about a lack of support “in an operation they chose to undertake alone.”

Hegseth’s broadsides echo Trump’s swipes that other nations should “Go get your own oil!” and “start learning how to fight for yourself.”