Share and Follow
President Donald Trump has voiced his displeasure with certain US allies, urging them to take more responsibility in supporting the US military efforts. Amid rising global petrol prices following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump suggested that nations like the United Kingdom and France should “go get your own oil.”
Utilizing social media as his platform, Trump criticized these allies for their reluctance to engage in a conflict lacking a clear resolution, a decision made without their consultation. His message was clear: “You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself. The USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
In particular, Trump took aim at France for its refusal to allow military flights through its airspace when transporting supplies to Israel. Despite this, France has permitted the US Air Force to operate from its Istres base in southern France, provided that the aircraft do not participate in offensive operations.
He singled out France for not letting planes fly over French territory while taking military supplies to Israel.
France has allowed the US Air Force to use the Istres base in southern France because it had guarantees that planes landing there would not be involved in carrying out strikes.
Similarly, Spain, which has emerged as Europe’s loudest critic of the war, said on Monday that it had closed its airspace for US planes involved in the conflict.
Italy recently refused to allow US military assets to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for an operation linked to the offensive, an official with knowledge of the matter said, confirming a local press report. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto wrote on X that Italy is still allowing the US to use its bases, adding that there has been no cooling of relations between the two countries.