US President Donald Trump voiced frustration with NATO allies during a meeting with Secretary General Mark Rutte, criticizing their response to the conflict with Iran.
Speaking after more than two hours of talks at the White House, Rutte described the discussion as "frank" and "open", acknowledging tensions within the alliance.
Rutte told CNN that Trump was clearly disappointed with a lot of NATO allies. A White House spokeswoman later quoted Trump as saying that NATO was "tested and failed".
Several NATO countries declined to support the US-led military operation against Iran, either by refusing access to their airspace or by withholding naval support for efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Rutte Seeks to Ease NATO Tensions
Rutte conceded that "some" allies had fallen short of expectations, but stressed that "most Europeans" had been supportive.
Asked whether the world was safer following the conflict, he replied "absolutely", crediting Trump’s "leadership" with weakening Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He added that NATO members did not consider the operation illegal and broadly agreed on the need to curb Iran’s nuclear programme.
Rutte has cultivated a close relationship with the US President despite ongoing tensions within the alliance. Last year, he described Trump as the father resolving a schoolyard fight between Israel and Iran.
The White House did not disclose further details of the meeting. Afterward, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN".
He has repeatedly described the alliance as a "paper tiger" and has in recent weeks suggested the United States could withdraw.
Relations between Washington and NATO had already been strained prior to the Iran conflict, notably over Trump’s ambitions regarding Greenland. Following the meeting, he reiterated his frustration in a post, writing: "REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!"
(reuters, est, bbc)