Trump’s Litmus Test: Oil Ban Separates Committed Allies from the Rest

President Donald Trump has established a new litmus test for NATO members: their willingness to completely ban Russian oil. This single issue has become his metric for separating what he considers to be truly committed allies from those who are, in his view, just “wasting his time.”
The President made this test explicit in a Truth Social post over the weekend. He stated that his readiness to impose “major Sanctions on Russia” is entirely dependent on every single ally passing this test by halting all purchases of Russian oil. There is no room for partial credit.
This binary test—you either ban the oil or you don’t—simplifies a complex issue but also creates a clear dividing line within the alliance. It puts immediate pressure on countries like Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia to prove their commitment in the eyes of the White House.
Furthermore, Trump has added a second, related test: a willingness to confront China economically. His proposal for massive collective tariffs on Beijing is another way of gauging the alliance’s resolve. For Trump, true allegiance is no longer just about military spending; it’s about a demonstrated willingness to wage total economic war.