German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius attends a press conference with Latvia's Defense Minister Andris Spruds, in Berlin, Germany, March 16, 2026. (Credit: Nadja Wohlleben/Reuters)
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Monday rejected demands by U.S. President Donald Trump for military support in the war against Iran and downplayed threats that such a stance by allies would hurt NATO.
"What does ... Donald Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful U.S. navy cannot do?" he said in Berlin.
"This is not our war, we have not started it."
Asked about Trump's warning that NATO faces a "very bad" future if its members fail to come to Washington's aid, Pistorius said he did not anticipate NATO to fall apart over these differences.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Monday rejected demands by U.S. President Donald Trump for military support in the war against Iran and downplayed threats that such a stance by allies would hurt NATO.
"What does ... Donald Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful U.S. navy cannot do?" he said in Berlin.
"This is not our war, we have not started it."
Asked about Trump's warning that NATO faces a "very bad" future if its members fail to come to Washington's aid, Pistorius said he did not anticipate NATO to fall apart over these differences.
