Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, citing frustration with allies’ reluctance to support U.S. efforts in the conflict involving Iran.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph published on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his long-standing criticism of the alliance.
“I was never swayed by NATO,” the president said, adding that reconsidering U.S. participation was “beyond consideration.”
“I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way,” he told the British newspaper.
President Trump’s comments come after European allies declined requests to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes. The president said he was surprised by the lack of support.
“Beyond not being there, it was actually hard to believe. And I didn’t do a big sale. I just said, ‘Hey,’ you know, I didn’t insist too much. I just think it should be automatic,” President Trump said.
He also criticized allies for what he described as a lack of reciprocity.
“We’ve been there automatically, including Ukraine. Ukraine wasn’t our problem. It was a test, and we were there for them, and we would always have been there for them. They weren’t there for us.”
President Trump also directed criticism at the United Kingdom and its prime minister, Keir Starmer, over Britain’s decision not to join military operations tied to the conflict. In response, Starmer reaffirmed the U.K.’s commitment to NATO.
Britain is “fully committed to NATO,” Starmer said, describing it as “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen.”
He added that he would continue to act in the country’s national interest.
The interview also came as President Trump blasted the UK in a Tuesday post on Truth Social.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” he posted.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” the president added.
