Trump: US NATO exit ‘beyond reconsideration’ after Iran war rift
The US president criticizes the alliance, calling it a ‘paper tiger’ over its reluctance to join a US operation to forcibly reopen the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said he is strongly considering withdrawing the United States from NATO, following disagreements with allies over the war with Iran. In an interview with The Telegraph, Trump said a potential US exit from the alliance is now “beyond reconsideration.”
The remarks come after NATO members declined to join US efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route that has been disrupted during the conflict. Around 20 percent of the world’s oil typically passes through the strait, and its closure has contributed to rising global energy prices and concerns over a broader economic impact.
Trump sharply criticized the alliance, stating, “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.” He added that the lack of support from allies during the current conflict reinforced his long-standing skepticism.
Referring to the response from European partners, Trump said, “Beyond not being there, it was actually hard to believe.” He added that he had not strongly pressured allies to participate, saying, “I just said, ‘Hey’… I just think it should be automatic.”
The US president also compared the situation to previous conflicts, including support for Ukraine. “We’ve been there automatically, including Ukraine. Ukraine wasn’t our problem. It was a test, and we were there for them,” he said. “They weren’t there for us.”
NATO allies have been cautious about becoming directly involved in military operations linked to the Iran conflict, particularly in efforts to secure maritime routes in the Gulf. The alliance has not announced any collective military action related to reopening the strait.