New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has criticised Washington’s relationship with NATO, calling it “one-sided” and “ridiculous” just days before the military alliance’s summit in Ankara, Turkey.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump questioned the value of the US commitment to NATO, arguing that the alliance had not supported Washington in the same way.
He also shared a chart comparing defence spending by NATO members, highlighting that the United States spends significantly more than several allies, including the UK and France.
Trump has repeatedly criticised European allies in recent weeks, particularly over their response to the conflict involving Iran. He has expressed dissatisfaction after several countries reportedly restricted the use of military bases for US forces during operations in the region.
The US president has also maintained that European nations should take greater responsibility for their own defence, while his administration has already begun reducing certain US security commitments, according to the theguardian.com.
Last year, NATO leaders agreed to increase defence-related spending to 5% of their gross domestic product by 2035 following sustained pressure from Trump.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump remained disappointed with some NATO allies over their reluctance to take a more active role in military operations against Iran. Rubio indicated that the issue was expected to be a key topic at the upcoming NATO summit, describing the meeting as one of the most significant in the alliance’s 77-year history.
The NATO summit will be held in Ankara on July 7 and 8 and will bring together leaders of all 32 member states.
Founded in 1949, NATO has long served as a US-led military alliance that has played a central role in European security and transatlantic defence cooperation.
