Trump says U.S. no longer needs NATO, Asia-Pacific allies; post not policy.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social on the 17th local time that the United States has achieved substantial military success and, as a result, no longer needs or wants the support of NATO members. He also asserted that the same logic applies to Japan, Australia, and South Korea.

Trump’s post reiterates a theme he has pressed before: allied participation in potential Iran-related military action is not required, at least in his view. He framed his message as a statement about the degree of U.S. reliance on its traditional security partners.

The president has previously called for a so‑called “Hormuz defense coalition” that would involve allied ships and other assets to ensure the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint that enables waterborne trade from the Persian Gulf to global markets.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical corridor for international energy shipments, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea and beyond. Movements through the strait have long been a focal point of security and diplomacy in the region, with several U.S. and allied naval operations designed to deter disruption.

For U.S. readers, the remarks matter because they touch on alliance burden-sharing, NATO’s role in a changing security landscape, and the reliability of security guarantees that underpin American defense planning and European and Asian security policies. Any shift in how closely the United States expects or relies on allies can influence defense budgets, Washington’s diplomatic posture, and how markets price risk.

The social-media claims come amid broader tensions over Iran, the security of global energy supply chains, and how international coalitions should respond to potential threats. Analysts caution that a single post on Truth Social may not reflect formal policy, and official responses or clarifications often follow.