Trump says he’s considering pulling U.S. out of ‘paper tiger’ NATO
US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering withdrawing the US from NATO, the latest threat to America’s allies following their reluctance to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with Telegraph newspaperPresident Trump has described the 77-year-old defense alliance as a “paper tiger” and when asked whether he would reconsider US membership in the bloc after the Iran conflict ends, Trump told the newspaper: “Oh yeah, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration.”
“NATO never impressed me. I always knew they were paper tigers, and Putin knows that too, by the way,” he said in comments published on Wednesday.
Trump was angered by European allies’ refusal to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas sea passage controlled by Iran, and their refusal to allow the United States to use military bases to launch attacks on the Islamic Republic.
European leaders view any attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as extremely dangerous, as Iran continues to attack tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that are not considered “friendly” countries.
Officials also say Trump’s war against Iran was one of his own choosing and that they were not consulted before it began in late February. At the same time, there is reluctance to become involved in a war that could turn into another “endless war” in the Middle East, as in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Trump has made clear that he sees this reluctance as NATO’s betrayal of the United States after aiding Ukraine in its four-year conflict with Russia. Opponents of this view argue that NATO is based on the idea of collective defense rather than attack.
The President told the Telegraph that he expected his allies to accept the US request for assistance to Iran.
“It was really hard to believe, beyond not being there. And I didn’t make a big sale. I just said, ‘Hey,’ I didn’t push too hard. I just think it should be automatic,” he said in comments published Wednesday, adding:
“We were automatically there, including Ukraine. Ukraine was not our problem. It was a test and we were on their side and would always be on their side. They were not there for us.”
Trump’s comments came after he warned Britain and France on Tuesday that the United States “will no longer be there to help you.”
Sharing on Truth SocialTrump said, “The country of France does not allow planes going to Israel loaded with military supplies to fly over French territory.”
“France HELPED A LOT with the ‘Butcher of Iran’ which was successfully eliminated! USA WILL REMEMBER!!!” he wrote in one post. he said.
In another post, the president singled out Britain for criticism while urging other countries to take action in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil route that Iran effectively blocked during the war.
“I have a suggestion for all the countries that cannot get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refuses to participate in the decapitation of Iran,” Trump wrote.
“No. 1, buy in the USA, we have lots of it, and No. 2, gather some overdue courage, head to the Bosphorus and just BUY.”
In comments published Wednesday, Trump again blasted Britain, claiming the country’s Royal Navy is inadequate.
“You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and you have aircraft carriers that don’t work,” he said, referring to Britain’s warship fleet.
Trump told the Telegraph that he would not tell British Prime Minister Keir Starmer “what to do” regarding increasing defense spending.
“I’m not going to tell him what to do. He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t matter. All Starmer wants is expensive windmills that send your energy prices through the roof.”
Other senior officials have hinted that the United States may abandon NATO, but it is unclear how seriously these threats should be taken. Washington will need to “re-examine” its relationship with NATO once the war in Iran is over, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday.
“If NATO just involves us defending Europe when they’re attacked and then denying us our basic rights when we need it, that’s not a very good arrangement. That’s a difficult arrangement to engage in and say that’s good for the United States. So all of that will have to be re-examined.” he told Al Jazeera.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Starmer was asked to comment on his US counterpart’s criticism. “There is a lot of pressure on me to change my position on accession,” he told reporters. [Iran] “I will not change my position on war and war.”
“Whatever the pressure, whatever the noise, I am the British prime minister and I must act in our national interests,” he said.
Starmer signaled that he would not choose between the USA and Europe, but that the relationship with the continent is becoming increasingly important. “I think it is in our interest to have a strong relationship with the United States and Europe,” he told reporters.
“But I think we need a stronger relationship with Europe when it comes to defense and security, energy emissions and the economy.”
