Washington, June 25: President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with several NATO allies during a discussion with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. He stated that during the conflict with Iran, many allies did not meet expectations. While he emphasized that the US did not require military assistance, he hoped for greater loyalty from partners.
With the NATO summit approaching next month in Ankara, Trump noted that the US has taken strong action regarding Iran, but he was let down by the responses from some European allies. “We were disappointed. We didn’t need any help in this matter. We defeated them in the first week, but it would have been nice if they had said, ‘We would like to help,'” he remarked.
Trump specifically mentioned his disappointment with Italy, the UK, Germany, and France, stating, “We were disappointed with most of them.” Rutte acknowledged that there were reasons for disappointment in some cases but emphasized that European nations provided necessary logistical support through bilateral arrangements with Washington.
Rutte stated, “I believe it would have been very difficult for the US to strike Iran without using Europe as a power projection platform.” He highlighted that 4,000 to 5,000 American aircraft had flown from European airbases during the conflict.
Trump also pressured NATO members to increase their defense spending, questioning whether they were contributing the agreed-upon five percent. He noted, “The big question is whether they are giving five percent. They agreed to this six months ago, and most are not.”
Rutte defended the alliance’s growth, pointing out that Germany, Poland, Denmark, the Baltic states, and other partners are rapidly increasing their defense budgets. He credited Trump’s leadership for the rise in military spending in Europe and Canada.
The US President clarified that his primary expectation from allies was not financial support. “I just need their loyalty. We don’t need their money; we don’t need anything. We have the most powerful military in the world, but I just need loyalty,” he stated.
Rutte praised Trump’s approach to the Iran crisis, emphasizing the importance of preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He remarked, “I want to make it clear how crucial what you are doing regarding Iran is. Having nuclear capability in Iran would pose a threat to the entire world.”
Trump mentioned that discussions with Iran were progressing well, stating, “Our talks with Iran are going very well.” He previously indicated that Iran was making significant concessions.
When asked whether he would accept any agreement allowing Iran to impose shipping fees in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump firmly replied, “That would not be acceptable to me; I will not allow it.”
Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump spoke warmly about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying, “He is my friend. He loves Turkey and is doing a great job.”
Regarding Turkey’s long-pending request for F-35 fighter jets, Vice President J.D. Vance noted that the government is reviewing whether all legal requirements have been met. Vance stated, “We are in the process of confirming that all necessary conditions have been fulfilled. This is fundamentally a matter related to Congress, and it is essential to ensure that Turkey has complied with US law.”
On the topic of Ukraine, Trump praised President Volodymyr Zelensky for his strong performance and resilience, calling him a courageous leader.
The NATO summit is scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, focusing on implementing agreements made last year. These agreements aim for allied nations to invest five percent of GDP in defense and security by 2035, strengthen defense industrial production, and continue support for Ukraine. NATO leaders have also reiterated that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.
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