Trump says Korea didn’t help, shifts burden

Apr 02, 2026, 09:24 am

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Donald Trump departs in the presidential limousine after attending oral arguments on birthright citizenship at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on April 1. / AFP-Yonhap

U.S. President Donald Trump on April 1 openly criticized South Korea for not supporting U.S. efforts and suggested that responsibility for managing the Strait of Hormuz should fall on major oil-consuming countries such as South Korea, Japan, and China.

Speaking at a White House Easter luncheon, Trump remarked, “Let South Korea do it,” adding, “They didn’t help us.” He continued, “Let Japan do it. They take 90% of the oil from the strait. Let China do it. Why are we doing it?” His comments signaled growing pressure on U.S. allies to share more of the burden in securing key global shipping routes.

Trump also referenced U.S. troop deployments in South Korea, saying, “We have 45,000 soldiers in a dangerous place, right next to nuclear forces.” The actual number of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) personnel is approximately 28,500. His remarks appeared aimed at reinforcing arguments for greater allied contributions as Washington seeks an exit strategy from tensions involving Iran.

The criticism comes amid reports that South Korea did not respond to U.S. requests to deploy forces to the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Trump to link alliance commitments with expectations for military cooperation.

Trump also directed sharp criticism at the NATO alliance, questioning its effectiveness. Referring to Emmanuel Macron, he said the French leader had suggested joining efforts only after the conflict ends, adding, “That’s not when you need them.”

He also mocked Keir Starmer, saying the British leader hesitated when asked about sending aircraft carriers. “NATO won’t be there when you really need it,” Trump said, calling the alliance a “paper tiger.”

The remarks highlight increasing tensions over burden-sharing among allies and raise questions about the future coordination of global security efforts amid escalating instability in the Middle East.

#Donald Trump #Hormuz Strait #South Korea US relations #USFK #NATO criticism