Trump: Iran has just issued a "request"! Strait of Hormuz navigation, latest news

Trump’s latest remarks ignite a surge in European defense stocks.

On April 1, the European defense sector jumped across the board. According to a report from the UK on April 1, U.S. President Trump said he is “seriously considering” having the United States leave NATO. In addition, U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing: “NATO should learn to protect itself.”

Analysts said that as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, differences between the U.S. and its European allies over military support for the Middle East and the security of the Strait of Hormuz are rapidly becoming openly visible. Trump ally and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham previously revealed that during a recent conversation, he “had never seen Trump so angry,” and the reason was that European allies are unwilling to commit more resources to keep the Strait of Hormuz operating.

According to CCTV International, on April 1 Trump posted on social media claiming, “The new president of Iran’s new government is much more rational than his predecessors, and not as extreme. He has just asked the United States for a ceasefire! And we will only consider it when the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, with clear passage and no obstruction. Until then, we will turn Iran into rubble—or, in their words, blow them back to the Stone Age.” Trump did not explain exactly who this so-called “new president of Iran’s new government” is. Iran has yet to respond.

Meanwhile, according to Xinhua News Agency, on April 1 UK Prime Minister Starmer said that UK Foreign Secretary Cooper will chair an international meeting this week on the Strait of Hormuz to discuss plans for restoring navigation through the strait. Speaking at a press conference that day, Starmer said the UK is exploring “all available diplomatic channels” to push for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen for navigation. He said the best way to address rising cost of living is to cool down the situation and ensure the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

European defense stocks surge across the board

On April 1, after European stock markets opened, the European defense sector surged across the board. Rheinmetall in Germany rose by more than 9%, Thales Group in France rose by more than 5%, and BAE Systems in the UK rose by more than 3%.

On the news front, according to Xinhua News Agency citing an interview with U.S. President Trump published on April 1 by the UK’s The Daily Telegraph, Trump is “seriously considering” having the United States leave NATO.

When asked by a reporter whether he would consider letting the United States leave NATO, Trump replied, “Oh yes, I’d say this is already not something we need to consider. I’ve never been dictated by NATO. I’ve always known they’re paper tigers. By the way, Russian President Vladimir Putin also knows this.”

In response, UK Prime Minister Starmer on April 1 said, “No matter how much pressure I and others face, no matter how much noise there is from the outside, the decisions I make will always put the UK’s national interests first. That’s why I have been clear: this (Iran war) is not our war, and we will not get involved in it.”

Earlier that day, Trump posted two messages on social media in a row expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of the UK and France in their military actions against Iran.

On March 31, Trump posted on social media saying that France does not allow military cargo planes flying to Israel to fly over its territory, “France has been extremely uncooperative in its military actions against Iran, and the U.S. will remember that!”

Also, according to @CCTV International, in an interview broadcast by Qatar’s Al Jazeera at local time on March 30, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio criticized NATO countries for not helping in the U.S.’s military actions against Iran, saying, “NATO’s performance is very disappointing.”

Rubio said that the U.S. provides protection for NATO countries, but when the U.S. needs them, NATO countries refuse to allow the U.S. to use their bases, which is not fair to the U.S., and it is difficult for the U.S. to keep being involved; the U.S. needs to re-examine its relationship with NATO.

Rubio also emphasized that everyone, including NATO allies, knows that without the U.S., there is no NATO. If one day the U.S. decides to withdraw its troops from Europe, NATO will end as a result.

Latest remarks from the U.S. Secretary of Defense

According to Xinhua News Agency, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth said at a press conference on March 31 that, considering that some allies refuse to provide help, Trump will make a decision on NATO’s future after the end of U.S. military operations against Iran.

At a Pentagon briefing that day, Hegseth said: “NATO should learn to protect itself.”

Hegseth said that Iran’s missiles “can’t even reach the U.S. mainland,” but can target some NATO ally countries. However, everyone around the world has seen that when the U.S. launches large-scale action against Iran, NATO allies even do not give the U.S. simple access rights.

Hegseth also said that when the U.S. needs these allied countries, those countries are unwilling to stand with the U.S., so this alliance is not worthy of its name.

Polish media reported on March 31 that the U.S. asked NATO ally Poland to deploy a “Patriot” missile defense system in the Middle East to replenish its ammunition stockpile that is increasingly running out, in response to Iran’s counterattack.

Poland’s Rzeczpospolita, citing people familiar with the matter, reported the above news. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz responded on social media later that evening that Poland’s missile defense system is for protecting its airspace and NATO’s eastern flank and will not be moved elsewhere.

According to RIA Novosti, Poland has two “Patriot” missile defense systems, equipped with about 600 interceptor missiles.

As the war in the Middle East drags on, the consumption of U.S. offensive missiles has created a shortfall, and defensive munitions are also “not enough.” It is understood that currently, the U.S. military’s “THAAD,” “Patriot,” and “Standard-6” interceptor missiles are all in short supply because they have been consumed quickly and cannot be replenished sufficiently.

Data shows that in just the 36 hours after the fighting broke out, U.S. air defense systems had already used more than 300 “Patriot” interceptors, Gulf countries used 280, and in addition, many missiles were launched; replenishing these munitions may require several years.

According to earlier reports from U.S. media, the U.S. has moved some of the “THAAD” missile defense systems deployed in South Korea to the Middle East, and also transferred “Patriot” interceptor missiles from other regions.

Source: Securities Times

Statement: All information from Data Treasure does not constitute investment advice. The stock market involves risks; invest cautiously.

Editor: Zhou Sha

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