Trump Calls US-NATO Relationship 'Ridiculous' Ahead of Ankara Summit
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that it is "ridiculous" for the United States to maintain its current level of support for NATO, describing the relationship as "one-sided." The remarks come less than a week before a NATO summit scheduled in Ankara, Turkey.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: "They were not there for us!!!" and argued that Washington's relationship with the alliance "is not reciprocal."
Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies over their response to the war in Iran, citing restrictions on the use of bases for U.S. forces by several countries. He has insisted that Europe should take the lead role in its own defence, and the United States has already begun scaling back its commitments.
The post included a chart comparing NATO spending, showing the United States investing significantly more than some other member states. Under pressure from Trump, NATO leaders had agreed at a gathering last year to increase defence spending to five percent of GDP by 2035.
The upcoming NATO summit, bringing together 32 member states, will be held in the Turkish capital on July 7–8. The alliance, founded in 1949, has been a U.S.-led defence force credited with maintaining stability in Europe, containing the Soviet Union, and solidifying the United States as a world power.
