Donald Trump has issued a warning that the US could withdraw from NATO, more than 70 years after America helped establish the alliance with other nations in the aftermath of World War 2.
The United States was among the 12 original NATO members when the group was formed in 1949. Those founding partners also included the UK, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal — all of which are still members today.
NATO has since expanded, and it currently has 32 member states.
Recently, tensions between Washington and several NATO allies have reportedly increased, particularly following Trump aligning with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as military action was launched against Iran.
Trump has been seeking backing from allies including the UK as the conflict develops, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declined to commit British involvement.
Speaking publicly today (April 1), Starmer said that it is ‘not our war’ and indicated he would not allow the UK to be pulled into the fighting.
He told viewers in a televised address: “Whatever the pressure, whatever the noise, I am the British prime minister and I have to act in our national interests.”
In a newly published interview with British newspaper The Telegraph, Trump said he is weighing up whether the US should leave NATO.
“Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration,” the POTUS said when asked if he’s considering exiting NATO once the Iran war is over.
He continued: “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”
Turning his criticism toward the UK’s position, Trump added: “You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work.”
Asked by The Telegraph whether he believes the UK should increase defence spending, Trump said he would not instruct Starmer on what decisions to make.
“I’m not going to tell him what to do,” he said of the prime minister. “He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t matter. All Starmer wants is costly windmills that are driving your energy prices through the roof.”
Trump also aimed criticism at France on Truth Social, claiming the country ‘wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory’.
He described France as ‘very unhelpful’ in connection with the allegation.
According to The Guardian, French president Emmanuel Macron was ‘surprised’ by Trump’s remarks, with the report stating that France’s approach to the Iran conflict ‘has not changed its position since day one’.