US President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of the United States reducing or ending its role in NATO during talks with Secretary General Mark Rutte, highlighting growing divisions within the alliance over the Iran conflict.
According to the White House, Trump has been weighing the option of withdrawing, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the President believes the alliance has not met expectations.
"They were tested, and they failed," she said during a press briefing, adding that the possibility of leaving NATO is still under consideration. "It's something the President has discussed, and I think it's something the President will be discussing."
The meeting took place against a backdrop of frustration in Washington, as Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the level of support from European allies during US military actions linked to Iran.
Rutte acknowledged the strain in relations but emphasised that many NATO members had contributed assistance. He said he clearly regrets the situation, but that the large majority of European nations continue to engage constructively, describing the discussions as very frank and very open.
He noted that allied support included 'basing, logistics, overflights' and other operational help, though he admitted that not all countries met US expectations.
"Some of them, yes," he said when asked whether certain members had fallen short.
Beyond the Iran issue, discussions also addressed securing key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing diplomatic efforts concerning the Russia-Ukraine war.
In parallel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Rutte to discuss increasing coordination and burden shifting with NATO Allies, according to the State Department.
Despite the tensions, senior Republican lawmakers reaffirmed the importance of the alliance.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said in a joint statement that "A strong NATO remains firmly in the US interest," adding, "Recent operations had benefited significantly from the critical support of the vast majority of our NATO allies."
Trump's remarks have stirred concern across Europe regarding the future of US involvement in NATO. However, the White House confirmed that the meeting concluded without any official decision or announcement on a policy change.
Established in 1949, NATO continues to serve as the cornerstone of Western collective defence, with its mutual defence principle requiring members to support one another in times of conflict.