US President Donald Trump was “absolutely disappointed” during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday.
The two leaders met at the White House to discuss a US-Israeli war against Iran, in which the NATO allies did not actively participate.
“NATO wasn’t there when we needed them and they won’t be there if we need them again,” Trump posted on his Truth social platform shortly after the meeting.
Rutte – the former Dutch prime minister who has been dubbed the “Trump whisperer” for his ability to flatter the US president – later shared some details in an interview with CNN.
“It was a very candid, very open discussion. But it was also a discussion between two good friends,” Root said of the meeting, which took place behind closed doors at the White House.
The meeting came a day after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
Speculation of America’s withdrawal from NATO
Trump has repeatedly called NATO a “paper tiger” and threatened to pull out of the 32-member military alliance that spans Europe and North America.
Before the meeting, White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt acknowledged that Trump had once again discussed withdrawing from NATO.
“I think the president will discuss this with Secretary General Rutte in the next few hours,” he told reporters before the leaders’ meeting.
wall street journal It was reported that Trump was looking to punish some NATO members whom he believed were not helpful during the war by potentially moving American troops out of their countries.
Following Levitt’s previous comments, CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Rutte if Trump had said the US would withdraw from NATO.
The NATO chief did not answer the question directly but expressed his disappointment with the US President.
“Let me be clear, he is absolutely disappointed with many NATO allies and I can understand his point of view,” Rutte said.
“But at the same time, I was also able to point to the fact that the vast majority of European countries have been helpful, with basing, with logistics, with overflights, to ensure that they live up to the commitments,” Rutte said.
He also pointed to efforts by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to convene 34 other countries to explore ways to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping.
Trump says NATO members ‘failed’ tests
The war in Iran has heightened transatlantic concerns over Russia’s war in Ukraine, Trump’s comments earlier this year about taking control of Greenland and the US calling on European countries to increase military spending.
In a statement read by Leavitt before the meeting, Trump said of NATO members: “They were tested, and they failed.”
Rutte acknowledged that “some of them” had failed the test, but said that “a large part of European countries” nevertheless met their NATO obligations.
Rutte added, “The United States was able to do what it did to Iran because many European countries lived up to those commitments.” “Not all of them, and I completely understand their frustration about this, but so, it’s a nuanced picture.”
A NATO spokesman later said at the X: “The Secretary-General underlined the importance of Allies stepping up to deliver a strong, fair alliance.”
Edited by: Shawn Sinico