Yerevan [Armenia], May 4 (ANI): NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that European nations have “gotten the message” from the United States regarding their military contributions, according to Al Jazeera. He indicated that allies are now moving to ensure that “agreements on the use of military bases are being implemented” across the continent.
The remarks follow recent assertions from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has accused certain NATO members of failing to provide sufficient support to Washington amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Speaking to the media at a European Political Community summit in Armenia, Rutte acknowledged that while there had been friction between transatlantic partners, European capitals are now taking Washington’s concerns seriously.
“Yes, there has been some disappointment from the U.S. side, but Europeans have listened,” Rutte said, according to Al Jazeera.
The strategic pressure has prompted a shift in rhetoric from key European capitals, particularly in Germany, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz has recently reaffirmed the importance of the transatlantic relationship. He described the United States as Germany’s “most important partner in the North Atlantic Alliance,” a statement that comes days after he criticized Trump’s handling of the West Asia conflict.
The chancellor’s remarks coincide with a move by the White House to scale back its military footprint in Europe. Trump recently announced plans to reduce the U.S. military presence in Germany by more than the 5,000 troops previously designated for withdrawal by the Pentagon.
Seeking common ground, Merz said on X that both nations “share a common goal: Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.” This marks a shift from his earlier stance in April, when he suggested the Trump administration was being outmaneuvered in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
However, tensions between the two leaders appear to be intensifying. Trump recently responded to the chancellor’s criticism during an executive order signing at the Oval Office, saying the “German chancellor is doing a terrible job” and urging him to focus on domestic issues such as immigration and energy.
According to Trump, he confronted Merz over the Iranian nuclear issue, asking, “Would you like Iran to have a nuclear weapon?” When the chancellor replied no, Trump said, “Well then, I guess I’m right.”
The U.S. president further escalated his remarks on Truth Social, urging Merz to focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and refrain from interfering with efforts to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear capabilities.
Amid these disputes, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned about the stability of the alliance, saying the “greatest danger” facing NATO stems from internal divisions rather than external threats.
He urged member states to work together to reverse what he described as a “disastrous trend” of fragmentation. Since its founding in 1949, NATO has functioned as a security alliance of 32 countries, aimed at safeguarding member states through political and military cooperation. (ANI)
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