Donald Trump has again attacked NATO for not supporting the US in the Iran war, following a private meeting with its Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House.
In a post shared to Truth Social after the meeting, the US President said: NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.
Meanwhile, Rutte has described his meeting with Trump as very frank and very open, despite clear disagreements.
Ahead of the talks, Trump had considered quitting the trans-Atlantic military alliance after several NATO countries resisted his calls for help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ease rising global oil prices.
The White House did not disclose details of the talk. The Secretary General was at the White House for over two hours on Wednesday, although it is unknown how long the meeting with Trump was.
The meeting was expected to cajole and convince Trump that it's in his interest, and America's, to stay in the NATO alliance.
However, Trump still has deep misgivings about the alliance and the member countries that he believes did not help the US enough before and during Operation Epic Fury.
In recent weeks, Trump has threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance, and when asked about NATO's role in the ongoing conflict with Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that NATO was tested and they failed.
Leavitt also mentioned that NATO countries had turned their backs on the American people who fund their defense, indicating Trump's frustrations.
Rutte noted that many European nations provided logistical support in the conflict, stating: the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights. He added, It's therefore a nuanced picture.
As the US leaders continue to grapple with their NATO alliance, the challenges presented by the Iran conflict remain at the forefront of transatlantic relations.
