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U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against NATO on Thursday, calling America’s participation in the alliance "ridiculous" and "one sided" just days before world leaders gather for a critical summit in Türkiye.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump attacked the 32-member defense pact, asserting that European allies have failed to support American interests. "They were not there for us!!!" Trump wrote, adding that Washington's relationship with the alliance "is not reciprocal."
The president's latest outburst comes amid deep fractures within NATO over the ongoing war in Iran. Trump has repeatedly lashed out at European allies for their handling of the conflict, particularly after several member states placed strict restrictions on U.S. forces using military bases within their borders.
As part of his "America First" foreign policy, Trump has insisted that Europe must take the lead role in its own continental defense. Washington has already begun moving to scale back its long-standing military commitments.
To press his point, Trump’s Truth Social post included a chart illustrating NATO defense expenditures, highlighting a vast disparity between U.S. spending and the significantly lower contributions of several featured member states.
While Trump has long complained about burden-sharing, his pressure has previously forced shifts in the alliance. At a NATO gathering last year, leaders bowed to U.S. demands and agreed to an unprecedented target: boosting defense-related spending to five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2035.
The upcoming NATO summit is scheduled for July 7–8 in the Turkish capital of Ankara, where Trump's demands for European self-reliance are expected to dominate the agenda.
Founded in 1949 at the onset of the Cold War, NATO has served for decades as a U.S.-led shield credited with maintaining European stability, deterring the Soviet Union, and solidifying Washington's status as the world's preeminent superpower. Trump's latest remarks underscore a fundamental shift in how the White House views that historic legacy. (ILKHA)
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