Washington, D.C., April 13 (ANI): U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “very disappointed” with NATO, alleging that the alliance failed to support the United States during its conflict with Iran.
Speaking about the issue, Trump emphasized the financial burden borne by the U.S. in maintaining the alliance.
“We pay trillions of dollars for NATO, and they weren’t there for us. Now they want to come up, but there’s no real threat anymore. NATO was not there for us. We spent trillions of dollars on NATO to help guard Europe against Russia,” he said.
Trump’s criticism of NATO predates his presidency and has been a consistent theme in his political stance. He has repeatedly urged European nations to increase defense spending and questioned the value of the alliance.
According to reports, Trump described NATO’s lack of support as a lasting stain on the alliance and referred to it as a “paper tiger.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also described the conflict as a “trans-Atlantic stress test,” highlighting tensions within the alliance.
However, Trump does not have unilateral authority to withdraw the United States from NATO. Such a move would require either a two-thirds majority in the U.S. Senate or an act of Congress, and the alliance continues to enjoy bipartisan support among American lawmakers.
While a full withdrawal remains unlikely, the U.S. retains flexibility in its commitments. NATO’s Article 5 outlines collective defense obligations but does not automatically mandate military action.
The U.S. could also consider repositioning its military presence in Europe, where approximately 84,000 American troops are currently stationed. Reports indicate that the administration is evaluating the possibility of relocating bases from countries perceived as unhelpful during the Iran conflict. (ANI)
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