Trump says US “no longer needs to be” in NATO

“We spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year protecting them (the allies). We would always be there for them, but now, based on their actions, I don’t think we need to be (in NATO anymore), do we?” Trump said.

According to the president, NATO allies did not respond to the support expected by the United States in the current conflict in the Middle East.

“Why would we be there for them if they’re not there for us? They weren’t there for us (in the war against Iran),” he declared.

The speech comes amid the Trump administration’s dissatisfaction with NATO countries, mainly European ones, which did not respond to the White House’s requests for support for operations in the Middle East, especially in the attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic point for global oil transport and a focus of tension in the current conflict.

European countries in the alliance have resisted direct involvement in the conflict, although some, such as the United Kingdom, have authorized the use of bases for defensive operations. Behind the scenes, NATO members claim that the war is not an alliance issue and report that they were not previously informed by the United States about the actions against the Iranian regime.

This Thursday (26), the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, stated that NATO is stronger under Trump’s leadership and attributed the pressure to the American president that led European countries to increase defense spending.