Hegseth rounds on Royal Navy and blasts UK for not sending warships to Middle East
The US Secretary of War blasted the UK for not sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz as the US continues military action against Iran.
Pete Hegseth also said that US president Donald Trump had been "left to the heavy lifting on behalf of the free world" as he gave an update on Operation Epic Fury.
His comments came after the president called on allies like the UK to do more and posted on Truth Social "the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us".
Mr Trump also said that allies should secure the vital Strait of Hormuz themselves.
During an update on Epic Fury, Mr Hegseth said: "I think the president was clear this morning in his truth that that there are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well.
"It's not just the United States Navy last time I checked there was supposed to be a big bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.
"He's pointing out this is an international waterway that we use less than most, in fact, dramatically less than most.
"The world ought to pay attention and be prepared to stand up."
Mr Hegseth revealed he had visited US troops involved in the operation in the Middle East at the weekend and said that forces had struck more than 11,000 targets in Iran over the last 30 days, and 150 ships.
He also urged the Iranians to make a peace deal and threatened to intensify military action if they did not negotiate.
"President Trump's been willing to do the heavy lifting on behalf of the free world to address this threat of Iran," he said.
"It's not just our problem set going forward even though we have done the lion's share of preparation to ensure that that strait will be open which is an outcome that the president's been very clear on.
"I think other countries should pay attention when the president speaks. He's proven that when he speaks he means something and he's pointing out you might want to start learning how to fight for yourself.
"It's something some of us have been saying for quite some time.
"You can't just have flags, you have to have formations. You can't just have a few ships, you have enough to affect change. Those things matter in a dangerous world with ascended adversaries."
Mr Hegseth also echoed President's Trump's concerns about the cooperation of Nato allies.
"A lot has been shown to the world about what our allies would be willing to do for the United States of America when we undertake an effort of this scope on behalf of the free world," he said.
"These are missiles that don't even range the United States of America; they range allies and others, and yet when we ask for additional assistance or simple access basing and overflight, we get questions or roadblocks or hesitations, and the president's pointing out you don't have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them."
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