Donald Trump has declared it 'ridiculous' for the United States to continue its current level of support for Nato, just days before the military alliance's summit in Ankara, Turkey. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president argued that Washington's relationship with Nato is 'not reciprocal' and that allies 'were not there for us' during the war in Iran.
Trump's Criticism of Nato Allies
Trump wrote: 'They were not there for us!!!' The president has repeatedly lashed out at European allies over their response to the conflict in Iran, as several countries restricted the use of bases for American forces. He insists that Europe should take the lead role in its own defence, and Washington has already moved to scale back its commitments.
His Truth Social post included a chart displaying Nato spending, showing the US investing vastly more than other member states depicted, including the UK and France.
Pressure for Higher Defence Spending
Under pressure from Trump, Nato leaders agreed at a gathering last year to boost defence-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has said Trump is disappointed that Nato allies refused to become more actively involved in attacking Iran.
Rubio, meeting with Nato foreign ministers in May, emphasised that the rift would be discussed at the July summit in Ankara. He described the gathering as 'one of the more important' in Nato's 77-year history.
Upcoming Summit in Ankara
The coming Nato summit, bringing together 32 member states, is scheduled for 7 and 8 July in the Turkish capital. The alliance, founded in 1949, has been a US-led defence force credited with maintaining stability in Europe, containing the Soviet Union, and solidifying Washington as a world power for decades.
