Pete Hegseth removes Britain from list of US allies after Keir Starmer's failure to support Iran war

He then threatened "consequences" would follow for Nato members which "do not step up".

Mr Hegseth said Nato had become "beset by free-riding" in the wake of the Cold War, and called on allies to "step up and make good on their commitments to our collective defence".

"Not all allies have gotten the message, and where they do not step up, there will be consequences," he said.

"In recent weeks, for instance, far too many of our Nato allies showed that they could not be relied upon to support our nation’s operations against Iran - despite the fact that they themselves are far more reliant on Middle East energy markets than we are, and also share our interest in denying Iran a nuclear weapons and otherwise degrading Iran’s power projection capabilities.

"This is unconscionable - and we will remember."

Mr Hegseth then notably left Britain and France off a list of "model allies" which included Israel, South Korea, Poland, Finland and the Baltic states.

He has previously dismissed Anglo-French efforts to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once the war ends as "silly".

He continued: "Americans want partners - not dependencies. And, thanks to President Trump's visionary leadership, that is what we are building. Real partnerships and alliances based on hard power.

"Our allies aren’t powerless. They are nations capable of doing far more for themselves than they have. It's time they stood up, and some of them are."

On Tuesday, Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the UK would deploy autonomous mine-hunting equipment, anti-drone systems and Typhoon jets to the strait.

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HMS Dragon had already been sent to the region, while support ship RFA Lyme Bay is being converted to act as a mother ship to mine-hunting drones, which could help clear shipping lanes.

But Iran threatened the Type 45 destroyer with a “decisive and immediate response” just days ago.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, shared a lengthy statement in which he “strongly advised” the UK and allies to stay away from the vital waterway.

“We remind them that, whether in times of war or peace, only the Islamic Republic of Iran can establish security in this strait and will not allow any country to interfere in such matters,” Mr Gharibabadi raged.

Britain's refusal to strike the Islamic Republic has long prompted the ire of Mr Hegseth's boss, Donald Trump.

Countries like the United Kingdom which could not get jet fuel because of the restrictions around the strait should "build up some delayed courage, go to the strait, and just TAKE IT".

He said he was addressing countries "which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran", adding: "The hard part is done."

In another veiled swipe at Europe, the President piled praise on Israel and the Gulf states for their help during the conflict, saying: "They've been great, and we will not let them get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form."

"Israel has clear missions as well for which we are grateful," Mr Hegseth said. "Capable partners are good partners.

"Unlike so many of traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force."

His words echoed those of the British ambassador to the US, Sir Christian Turner - who said America's real "special relationship" wasn't with the UK, but with Israel.

"The relationship will carry on, if you want, being 'special', but I think it's going to have to be different," Sir Christian admitted.