Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House amid reports that the US leader is considering raising the issue of withdrawing from NATO due to dissatisfaction with NATO's role in the Iran conflict.
This closed-door meeting took place just one day after the US and Iran agreed on a temporary two-week ceasefire, but the atmosphere was tense as Trump openly expressed his dissatisfaction with European allies for not supporting US military operations. The discussions were entirely private, with no details released to the public.
White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt stated it is unfortunate that NATO has turned its back on the American people, despite the US consistently bearing the defense costs for its allies. She acknowledged that the issue of withdrawing from NATO is under Trump's consideration and will be brought up for discussion.
Beyond the idea of withdrawing from NATO, reports indicate the US government is considering retaliatory measures against member countries perceived as uncooperative by relocating US troops from those nations to countries more supportive of Washington's stance.
These measures could directly impact Europe's security architecture and reflect the Trump administration's tough stance toward traditional allies.
Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO in the past, even calling it a paper tiger after it did not cooperate in opening strategic routes through the Strait of Hormuz and restricted US use of bases on European soil.
The US leader has also personally attacked certain allies, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he is not Winston Churchill and criticizing the British aircraft carrier fleet as merely a toy.
Although Trump has signaled multiple times about withdrawing the US from NATO, in practice such a move would require approval from the US Congress, making it currently more of a political bargaining chip.
However, analysts view the recent developments as revealing deep fractures within Western alliances and potentially marking a significant turning point in global security structures if the US seriously reduces its role in NATO.
:Sourcechannelnewsasia
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