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President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in a brief social media post late Tuesday, questioning the alliance’s support for the United States.
“NATO wasn’t there for us, and they won’t be there for us in the future!” he wrote, without providing additional context.
The comments follow a recent White House meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and amid ongoing tensions over the alliance’s role in the U.S. conflict with Iran.
President Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members for declining to support U.S. military operations related to Iran, including limiting access to bases and airspace and not assisting with efforts tied to the Strait of Hormuz.
In earlier remarks, President Trump described NATO as weak and suggested the United States could reconsider its participation in the alliance. He also stated in a recent post, “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
European officials have taken note of the comments. According to reports, some governments are exploring contingency plans to strengthen Europe’s independent defense capabilities in the event the U.S. reduces its role in NATO.
The tensions have also affected relationships with key allies, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, who has differed with President Trump on the Iran conflict and other issues. Meloni previously said Italy would not participate in U.S. strikes and described the action as outside international law.
President Trump publicly criticized Meloni in response, expressing disappointment and questioning her stance.
NATO, formed in 1949, has long been a cornerstone of Western military cooperation. President Trump has frequently argued that member nations should contribute more to collective defense and has tied those concerns to broader disputes over foreign policy and burden-sharing.