King Charles says US ‘lies at the heart of Nato’ in historic Congress speech after Trump’s threats to leave

The United States is at the “heart” of NATO, King Charles told Congress in a clear rebuke of President Donald Trump’s threats to leave the alliance.

In a historic speech, he touched on the president’s claims that the US was bolstering Europe in terms of military power, saying Britain had committed to the biggest sustained increase in defense spending since the Cold War.

“From the depths of the Atlantic to the cataclysmic melting ice caps of the Arctic, the commitment and expertise of the U.S. Armed Forces and their allies are at the heart of NATO, committed to defending each other, protecting our citizens and interests, and protecting North Americans and Europeans from our common enemies,” he said.

“Our defence, intelligence and security ties are tightly intertwined, with relationships measured in decades, not years.”

Earlier this month, President Trump warned that he was “absolutely” considering withdrawing the United States from NATO after America’s allies refused to join the American-Israeli campaign against Iran and has since repeated his warning.

The King also referred to the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, when NATO’s Article 5 was first invoked, to imply that Ukraine still needed defence.

“The same resolute determination is needed in the defense of Ukraine and its bravest people to secure a truly just and lasting peace,” he said to applause.

The King was addressing politicians during his visit with Queen Camilla to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence.

He went out of his way to highlight the historic ties between the two countries as he sought to resolve the rift between the leaders of the two countries, saying it was “one of the greatest alliances in human history” and that the UK-US partnership “is more important today than ever”.

Referring to the independence of the United States in 1776, he said: “The principle upon which your Congress was founded – no taxes without representation – was both a fundamental disagreement between us and a common democratic value that you inherited from us. Ours is a partnership born of disagreement, but no less powerful for that.”

The King also addressed the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. The incident descended into chaos when the armed suspect, allegedly identified as Cole Tomas Allen, breached security and fired at least one shot. He claimed that he was targeting members of the Trump administration.

“Whatever our differences, whatever our disagreements, we stand united in our determination to support democracy, protect all our people from harm, and salute the courage of those who risk their lives every day in the service of our countries,” the King said.

He insisted that the story of the UK and US over the last 250 years has been one of “reconciliation and renewal”, adding: “I wholeheartedly pray that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values ​​with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth and around the world, and that we will not ignore the clarion calls for us to be even more inward-looking.”

The King told a joint meeting of Congress that Britain and the United States had always “found ways to come together”.

In an effort to improve strained relations between the United Kingdom and the United States, he expressed “the greatest respect and friendship of the British people for the people of the United States in this landmark anniversary year.”

The King also reminded his audience about the climate crisis and said: “As we look to the next 250 years, we must also consider our common responsibility to protect Nature, our most valuable and irreplaceable asset.”

He added: “Even as we celebrate the beauty that surrounds us, our generation must decide how to address the collapse of critical natural systems that threatens much more than the harmony and essential diversity of Nature.”

Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in recent months over his refusal to engage in the government’s war on Iran and other domestic policies such as immigration and renewable energy.

While in the US, Charles faced some calls to meet with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. He did not directly mention the convicted sex offender, but cited the “collective power” in the United States and the United States to “support the victims of some of the diseases that exist tragically in both of our societies today.”

It was unclear whether the carefully worded statements amounted to an implicit acknowledgment of victims of sexual abuse in the wake of the Epstein scandal. US Representative Ro Khanna said before his speech that he was told by the British ambassador that the king would talk to Epstein in his speech before Congress.

The US president had previously said that the US “has no closer friend than the British”.

Speaking from a podium on the White House South Lawn on the second day of the King’s historic visit, he said: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.”

He also paid tribute to the “essence” of the “special relationship” after the Second World War, saying: “An understanding of our nation’s unique bond and its role in history is the essence of our special relationship, and we hope it will always remain so.”

Mr Trump, who criticized Sir Keir for being “no Winston Churchill” over Britain’s response to calls for US support for the Iran conflict, referred to wartime leader Sir Winston several times in his speech, calling him “Britain’s greatest prime minister”.

Charles became only the second British monarch to speak to a joint session of Congress. His mother was Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth made a similar speech in 1991, emphasizing the historical ties between the two countries and the importance of democratic values.