U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed dissatisfaction with NATO’s activities following a meeting in Washington with the alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte. Trump stated that allies did not support the U.S. in critical moments and questioned the alliance’s willingness to assist in the future.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Meeting in Washington: Positions of the Parties
On the social network Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“NATO was not there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again. Remember Greenland, that big, poorly managed chunk of ice!!!”
After talks with Trump, Mark Rutte commented to CNN that the conversation was “frank and open,” emphasizing that most European countries provided support to the U.S. in military efforts against Iran. Rutte explained that allies assisted with logistics, basing, flights, and fulfilling NATO commitments. According to him, European countries also support the reduction of Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, but it was the U.S. that achieved this outcome.
Trump’s Statements on the Future of NATO
Trump has repeatedly criticized the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance, claiming that its members do not fulfill their financial commitments regarding their own defense. Following the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, he particularly emphasizes that NATO did not provide the United States with real support during the conflict.
A number of member states of the alliance have stated that they were not consulted before the war began and were not asked to contribute to operations. Some countries, including Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, which host American military bases, have expressed reluctance to use them for offensive actions against Iran.
Additionally, Trump has demanded that Greenland be transferred under U.S. sovereignty, suggesting that NATO facilitate the transfer of the island from Denmark to the United States. This has caused further tension within the alliance, as most members support Denmark’s right to ownership.
In early April, Trump told the Reuters news agency that he is “absolutely” considering the possibility of the U.S. withdrawing from NATO due to the alliance’s lack of support for the American strategy regarding Iran. In an interview with The Telegraph, he called NATO a “paper tiger” and emphasized that the issue of the United States’ exit from the alliance is not up for discussion.
Experts note that it is not entirely clear whether the U.S. president has the legal right to unilaterally withdraw the country from NATO without Congressional approval.
At the same time, according to The Wall Street Journal, Trump is considering options for “punishing” countries that he believes did not support American and Israeli operations in the war against Iran. This includes the possibility of withdrawing U.S. troops from these countries and relocating them to bases in more loyal nations.