Why 'desperate' Donald can't find any friends to help his war in Iran
Donald Trump has demanded NATO allies support his war in Iran – and NATO allies said no. Is he becoming increasingly desperate as the conflict continues far beyond his expectations?
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What’s the story?
Donald Trump has made repeated claims that America has won the war in Iran - so why then, is he "demanding" NATO countries, including the UK, join the US and Israel in its invasion?
Despite Trump's claims of victory, bombing continues across the Middle East, and he now believes America should be supported in the Iran War in return for US involvement in Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
"I'm demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory," he told reporters on Air Force One.
But his calls have been rejected by Italy, Germany and the UK – with Keir Starmer telling the media that Britain “will not be drawn into the wider war.”
"Donald Trump reaching out to allies and asking: Where is everybody?" Emily Maitlis says.
"Everybody is looking at the situation and saying, 'why on earth would we want to get embroiled in his war?'"
Jon Sopel says Trump now finds himself in a “rather desperate” position of begging allies to help him end the war he started.
"Now into week three of the war, Trump has suddenly realised he's got an epic problem – that conventional warfare is not doing it against Iran," Jon says.
In closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran immediately cut off 20% of the world's oil supply, a situation Trump, America and Israel cannot simply bomb their way out of.
Why would any country want to help Trump's war in Iran?
In the UK, Starmer has refused Trump's calls for military support in attacks on Iran since day one – eventually even silencing his right-wing critics when the president's action caused oil prices to soar across the world.
Now, after Trump's most direct calls for aid yet, it's clear to see the rest of Europe are of the same mind.
"All these countries are now saying to Donald Trump, you started this, this is your mess," says Jon.
"Why are we obliged to come and help?"
In fact, he has found himself so isolated in this increasingly unmanageable conflict, that he has called on China, which has good relations with Iran, to help.
“Trump is even calling on China. Why would China help America?”
"China's ships are getting through the Strait of Hormuz, China has no problem with Iran," says Emily.
"Trump is turning to an arch enemy of America to help sort out its problems – but China isn't facing those problems.
"This takes you into Trump's state of mind, and he is, frankly, getting desperate."
Trump's NATO mistake
Donald Trump’s calls for NATO countries to aid his war in Iran have understandably fallen flat.
It was signed up in 1949 to support member countries from attack – not support wars started by “desperate” leaders.
"Article five of the NATO treaty says that an attack on one country is an attack on all – Donald Trump is doing the attacking here," Jon says.
"It is America's war of choice with Israel to attack Iran. It wasn't in defence of anything.
"We haven't had any kind of serious explanation about why this is a NATO matter. This is a Donald Trump matter. This is a US matter."
Trump's misunderstanding of the purpose of NATO, and his increasing demands on its members has led to a "turning point" in European countries, after the swift rejection of Trump's calls for support.
The firm stances taken by the UK, Germany and Italy pale in comparison to that of Luxembourg, whose foreign minister has accused the US of "blackmail" in his calls for aid.
"The language that we're seeing now is pretty unambiguous," Emily says.
The lesson Trump has learned about invading Iran
Israel has called on previous US presidents to assist in a military invasion of Iran, and was turned down every time before the Trump administration.
"There are no easy solutions. It is very easy to block the Strait of Hormuz if you're Iran," says Jon.
Trump, he adds, has now learned firsthand why previous presidents rejected calls for a war in Iran.
"Trump is looking like a man who has never played chess before, and who suddenly moved his king to the centre of the board and doesn't really understand why he's now under attack," says Emily.
"Iran is the gatekeeper who defines what oil gets through one part of the world to the next.
"Trump didn't even think two steps beyond his own nose as to what was going to happen if he suddenly created problems for Iran.”