Trump claimed that some NATO members refused to support key US military objectives.
US President Donald Trump publicly questioned NATO’s reliability during the conflict with Iran, saying the military confrontation had become a test of whether America’s allies would stand by Washington in the crisis.
Trump admitted he was “very disappointed” in the alliance, and claimed some NATO members had refused to support key US military objectives, deepening an already tense relationship with many European leaders.These statements came ahead of the NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara, where Trump met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking to reporters, the US President said the Iranian conflict confirmed his long-standing doubts about whether NATO allies would support the United States when it needed it most.For years, Trump has claimed that the United States bears a disproportionate share of NATO’s security burden while European allies rely too heavily on American military guarantees. The Iranian conflict appears to have reinforced these fears after some allied countries refused to allow US forces to use their air bases to launch strikes on Iran and refused to contribute military assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said he deliberately monitored the reaction of allies during the crisis.“I’m very disappointed in NATO,” Trump said. “We didn’t need any help at all, and in a way, I was testing people,” he explained. “I was testing to see if they would be there or not because I said a long time ago that we helped them, but I’m not sure they’ll be there for us.”Among the leaders Trump referred to was Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Although the two countries often have a friendly relationship, Trump indicated that Italy’s refusal to support Washington’s approach towards the Strait of Hormuz led to tense relations between them.“I refused to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz, or you could just say Iran,” Trump said. “My relationship with her has been a little strained. But I love her. I think she’s a nice person. But I think she made a mistake.”Trump said Italy’s dependence on energy imports from the Gulf made its reluctance particularly surprising, while insisting that the United States was not driven by energy needs.“We have a lot of oil. The United States has more oil than anyone else. And when you add Venezuela to it, it’s like we have a lot more oil than anyone else. We don’t need the straits,” Trump said.“We do it because we think it’s an important thing to do. But she wasn’t there for us. I wasn’t happy about that,” he added.The US President has repeatedly criticized many European leaders since the start of the Iranian conflict. He recently mocked Meloni on social media and also took aim at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying the British leader’s cautious approach to the crisis showed he was “not Churchill.”
Trump also remained unconvinced despite efforts by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to reassure him about the alliance’s increased defense commitments.On the other hand, Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing Türkiye as a constructive partner during the crisis. He said that Ankara helped diplomatic efforts to contain tensions and noted that Erdogan shares Washington’s goal of preventing Iran from possessing nuclear weapons.Regarding Turkish officials, Trump commented: “They know Iran well, and they know the problems with Iran.” “They were very instrumental, along with two other countries, in helping.”The US President stressed: “With regard to our relations, including trying to end the war with Iran, or whatever you call it, it is not even a war. It is a military operation. It is a process of nuclear disarmament.”Trump also noted that Türkiye possesses significant military capabilities but chose not to enter the conflict directly.“He could have participated in the fighting,” Trump said, describing Türkiye as a “very strong military country.”Regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump expressed confidence that Erdogan remains consistent with Washington’s position.“I don’t think he wants to see them have a nuclear weapon either,” Trump said. “I’m pretty sure of it. In fact, I’m pretty sure of it.”Trump’s statements highlight growing tensions within the Western alliance as NATO leaders met to discuss the ramifications of the Iranian conflict, collective security, and burden-sharing. His comments also highlighted the widening gap between Washington and some of its traditional allies over the extent to which NATO should support US military operations outside the alliance’s core territory.
