Valuetainment “Are You With Us Or Iran?” - Trump Puts NATO & China On Notice Over Strait of Hormuz Shutdown
Mar 16, 2026
Tom Ellsworth, a political and strategic analyst, breaks down tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. He discusses Trump pressing NATO and China to act. Short takes cover whether seeking allies shows strength or weakness, Iran’s blockade threats and feasibility, and the insurance and shipping ripple effects.
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Trump Uses Summit Threat To Pressure China And NATO
- Patrick Bet-David frames Trump's outreach to NATO and China as strategic leverage to force allies to declare positions on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.
- Trump warned he might delay the Xi summit and publicly asked China and NATO to pressure Iran before proceeding with talks.
Public Requests Risk Undermining Perceived Independence
- Tom Ellsworth worries the outreach signals a loss of the independent, strong posture the U.S. displayed early in the crisis.
- He argues publicly asking for help can look like weakness even if used as leverage.
Hold NATO Accountable For Alliance Contributions
- Patrick Bet-David insists NATO members must back U.S. asks because the U.S. funds and defends the alliance disproportionately.
- He cites NATO's $3.8 billion budget and the U.S. 16% share plus 100,000 deployed troops as leverage.