Trump Considers US Withdrawal from NATO

Donald Trump is seriously considering the possibility of the United States withdrawing from NATO after the alliance declined to join the war against Iran.

According to Trump, NATO is a “paper tiger.” He added that a U.S. withdrawal from the defense pact is now “beyond reconsideration,” The Telegraph reports.

When asked whether he would reconsider U.S. membership in NATO after the war, Trump said:
“Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”

Trump specifically criticized the UK, reproaching Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing to intervene in the war against Iran. He suggested the Royal Navy would not be able to handle such a mission.

“You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work.”

When asked whether Starmer should spend more on defense, Trump said he would not dictate policy.

“He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t matter. All Starmer wants is costly windmills that are driving your energy prices through the roof.”
The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with longtime partners over their stance on the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticized NATO as a “one-way street,” faulting U.S. allies for not providing access to their military bases.

Membership Review

Speaking on Fox News hours before his interview with Trump, Rubio said the U.S. would have to “re-examine” its NATO membership after the Iran conflict.

“I think there’s no doubt, unfortunately, after this conflict is concluded we are going to have to re-examine that relationship.<…> If NAT is just about us defending Europe if they’re attacked, but them denying us basing rights when we need them, that’s not a very good arrangement. That’s a hard one to stay engaged in.”

Trump told The Telegraph that he welcomed Rubio’s comments.

The Telegraph reported last week that Trump was considering a reorganization of NATO to penalize members who fail to meet U.S. funding demands.

Senior officials in the administration are advocating a “pay-to-play” model that could limit allies’ decision-making, particularly when the alliance launches military operations.

Sources close to the president said he is also considering withdrawing U.S. troops from Germany, a move under discussion since his return to office last year.

Trump’s demand for NATO support in the Iran war has raised questions about Article 5, the collective defense clause stating that “an attack on one is an attack on all.”

Article 5 has been invoked only once, following the September 11 attacks in the United States.

However, the provision applies only to attacks on NATO member states and does not cover the Iran conflict, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.