'You'll be hearing that later': Trump questions why US is helping NATO

DUBLIN, IRELAND: President Donald Trump revived his criticism of NATO over its refusal to help the US with the Strait of Hormuz, questioning why Washington should keep helping the alliance.

Trump said NATO members declined when he asked whether they would help with the waterway, then suggested the issue was not finished.

He made the remarks on Saturday, September 12, in Dublin during a two-day visit to Ireland.

Trump questions US support for NATO

Trump said NATO's refusal meant the alliance was indirectly saving the US money because he did not push members hard for military help.

"I said, 'Would you like to help us with the Hormuz Strait?'" Trump said, recounting his request to NATO members. "No, would rather not get involved."

Trump then connected the refusal to US support for NATO, saying, "You know, but I put it down because why the hell are we helping them?"

He added, "So, you'll be hearing that later," without explaining what he meant by the remark.

Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with NATO members over their response to the Iran war. 

In June, he told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that European countries had not joined the US war effort.

"We didn't need help on this at all. We demolished them in literally the first week," Trump said of Iran.

He added that assistance was not necessary but said it "would have been nice if they said that."

NATO chief defends European support

Rutte pushed back on Trump's criticism during their June Oval Office meeting, arguing that European allies had provided support through their military bases.

"When you look at the numbers, four to five thousand US planes [were] taking off from bases in Europe in the six weeks this war took place," Rutte said, as per the outlet.

"I know there have been isolated cases about which you are really disappointed, but generally speaking, your European allies have been there," he added.

Rutte also acknowledged Trump's frustration, saying, "I do agree there's reason for disappointment, absolutely. But my argument is this: These are isolated cases."

Trump nevertheless said he believed Rutte might have found a way to help if the US had needed it, as per the outlet.

"I think if I would've called him, he probably would have found a way to help if we needed it," Trump said, while praising Rutte as a "great guy, great leader, great secretary-general."

At a NATO summit in Turkey in July this year, Trump also blasted some European countries for refusing to participate in the Iran campaign, singling out Spain as "a terrible partner in NATO" and renewing his threats to cut off trade.

Hormuz dispute already surfaced

Trump's latest remarks returned to an issue he had raised in March, when he called on NATO allies to send their militaries to guard the Strait of Hormuz and warned, "It will be very bad for the future of NATO" if they did not.

No NATO ally committed military forces to the conflict, according to the report.

Control of the strait remained one of the key impasses in the US-Iran negotiations, it stated.