Europe should have fewer 'fancy conferences' and 'get in a boat' because it needs the Strait of Hormuz more than America does, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.

Speaking at a press conference, Hegseth hit out at the continent for a lack of support over the US war on Iran, telling reporters: 'This should not be America's fight alone. 

'We barely use the Strait of Hormuz as a country. Our energy doesn't flow through there, and we have plenty of energy.'

He went on to claim that Europe and Asia have benefitted from US protection for decades, 'but the time for free riding is over'.

'America and the free world deserve allies who are capable, who are loyal, and who understand that being an ally is not a one way street,' he said during the briefing.

'We are not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do, and might want to start doing less talking and having less fancy conferences in Europe and getting a boat.'

The comments came as Washington threatened to review the UK's claim to the Falklands Islands and suspend Spain from NATO.

An internal Pentagon email reported by Reuters suggested the US was considering such policies to punish trans-Atlantic allies it believed failed to support its war on Iran. 

The State Department's website states that the islands are administered by the United Kingdom but are still claimed by Argentina, whose Libertarian President Javier Milei is a Trump ally.

Britain and Argentina fought in 1982 over the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them. Some 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British troops died before Argentina surrendered.

The threat has drawn outrage from across the UK political spectrum. 

Downing Street insisted the status of the Falklands 'could not be clearer', while Kemi Badenoch branded the suggestion 'nonsense'. 

The Lib Dems called for the monarch's trip to America next week to be called off.

Falklands war veteran Simon Weston accused Donald Trump of being a 'schoolyard bully', warning that Argentina could use the shift as an excuse for another invasion.

The internal email expressed frustration at some allies' perceived reluctance or refusal to grant Washington access, basing and overflight (ABO) rights for the Iran war.

The US President has repeatedly insulted Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling him cowardly because of his unwillingness to join the US war with Iran, ​saying he was 'No Winston Churchill' and describing Britain's aircraft carriers as 'toys'.

Britain initially did not grant a request from the US to allow its aircraft to attack Iran from two British bases, but later ​agreed to allow defensive missions aimed at protecting residents of the region, including British citizens, amid Iranian retaliation.

A Downing Street spokesman said the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands 'rests with the UK'.

Asked about the report, the spokesman said: 'The Falkland Islands have hugely voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we've always stood behind the islanders' right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK.'

The spokesman continued: 'We've expressed this position previously clearly and consistently to successive US administrations and nothing is going to change that.'