Europe and Asia have benefited from our protection for decades, but the time for free riding is over, Hegseth said at a press conference on Friday.
Following the US and Israeli attacks, Iran has choked off traffic in the important shipping lane and stopped a significant portion of global oil flows.
European countries are discussing how to ensure free passage in the future, but have refused to intervene amid an active war.
We don't count on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do and maybe they should start doing more and talking less, Hegseth said, calling the discussions "ridiculous."
It's much more their fight than ours.
