US President Donald Trump said he is seriously considering withdrawing the United States from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), describing the alliance as a “paper tiger” in an interview with the British newspaper The Telegraph.
Trump said he would not reconsider Washington’s participation in the alliance after the end of the Middle East conflict.
“I would say it is beyond reconsideration,” he said when asked whether he would think twice about remaining in NATO.
Criticism of NATO allies
The US president said NATO had never influenced him and claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin also viewed the alliance as weak.
“I always knew it was a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too,” Trump said.
According to the report, NATO allies have angered Trump by unanimously refusing to participate in the US and Israeli military operation against Iran and by rejecting calls to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy route that Tehran has effectively blocked in response to the bombings.
Rubio raises questions over NATO ties
The remarks were published hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington may need to reconsider its relationship with NATO once the war against Iran concludes.
Rubio’s comments increased pressure on European allies, whom Washington accuses of refusing to support the US military effort.
Criticism of the United Kingdom
Trump also criticised the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not supporting the United States in its conflict with Iran.
In the interview, he questioned the strength of the British military, claiming the country no longer maintains an effective naval force and criticising the state of its aircraft carriers.
Source: skai.gr