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US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after landing at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after a trip to Miami, Florida, on April 12, 2026. (AP/Yonhap)

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his dissatisfaction with American allies, including Korea, Japan and NATO members, over their refusal to help the US in the war with Iran, saying they “weren’t there for us.” 

He also said countries could buy their oil from the US and Venezuela if the Strait of Hormuz were to be blocked.

In an interview Sunday with Fox News, the president singled out Korea and Japan while responding to fears over a surge in crude oil prices stemming from the US’ counterblockade of the strait. 

“People in our country have oil. People in other countries are getting hurt,” he said.

“The strait is for Japan,” he said, claiming it’s “where they get 93% of their oil.”

“South Korea gets 45 percent of its oil [through the strait],” he went on. 

“These people haven’t helped us,” he added. 

“We have 45,000 soldiers and 50,000, respectively, at those two places,” Trump said of Japan and Korea. “We guard them and protect them. And when we want a little help, they don’t help us.”

There are currently around 28,500 American troops stationed in Korea, but Trump continues to cite an incorrect figure.

Trump also reiterated his criticism of NATO, saying associated allies “weren’t there for us.”

Calling out the UK by name, Trump noted that Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would “send the equipment after the war is over,” calling it “a Neville Chamberlain-type statement.”

The comment echoed an earlier remark on April 6, when Trump compared Starmer — whom he accused of being uncooperative in the war with Iran — to Chamberlain, the British prime minister in the 1930s who pursued a policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany.

“NATO is shameful,” he told Fox News. “We have to reexamine NATO because they weren’t there for us.” 

Trump also took aim at China, which imports crude oil from Iran. Asked if his threat of a 50% tariff on countries sending military equipment to Iran referred to China, Trump said, “Yes, and other people. But yes, China, too.”

“China can send their ships to us; China can send their ships to Venezuela,” he added.

“We told them, ‘Buy from Venezuela.’ We have a lot of overcapacity we’d sell them, and we’ll probably sell it for even less money,” he said. “I have a very good relationship with President Xi [Jinping] of China. And we work together very well. They’re paying us substantial money, as you know; we never got money before.”

On reports that China provided Iran with man-portable air-defense systems, he said, “I doubt they would do that because I have a relationship and I think they wouldn’t do that,” before adding, “But if we catch them doing that, they get a 50% tariff.”

Trump said that even if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked, the US and Venezuela are still producing oil. “We’re doing so well with Venezuela,” he said, calling it “a great time to have Venezuela.” 

“By the way, Venezuela now is making more money than they have ever made before, and we’re participating in those profits,” he said. 

Trump’s blockade of the strait is expected to raise tensions in the waterway and hurt US American allies. Critics in the US have also questioned the effectiveness of the measure. 

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Monday told CNN that he did not “get that logic” on “how blockading the strait gets it open suddenly.”

Republican Rep. Mike Turner said, “The president, by saying we’re not just going to let them decide who gets through, is certainly calling all of our allies and everyone to the table.” This suggests that if an energy crisis intensifies due to the US’ closure of the Strait of Hormuz, America’s allies may have little choice but to take part.

The UK, however, said it will not join the proposed blockade of the strait. Bloomberg and other media quoted a British government spokesperson as saying after Trump’s announcement, “We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home.”

By Jung Yu-gyung, staff reporter

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