[World Today reporter Kim Woong-sik] President Donald Trump said he is “absolutely” considering pulling the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), driving tensions with the alliance to a breaking point.
On April 1 (local time), The Guardian reported that after NATO allies declined to join a U.S.- and Israel-led strike on Iran, Trump said the issue was beyond reconsideration and adopted a hard line. He told Reuters he was “absolutely considering” withdrawal and reiterated his distrust of NATO in an interview with The Telegraph.
Trump has long questioned NATO’s effectiveness, but he escalated pressure this time by pointing to the alliance’s lack of military cooperation. He voiced sharp frustration after several European countries not only declined to fight but also limited access to bases and denied overflight rights. He publicly criticized longtime allies such as the U.K., labeling some governments “cowards.”
Experts warn the comments could trigger one of the most serious crises in NATO’s history. Ivo Daalder, who served as U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013, said, “Military alliances rest on trust, and that foundation is shaking. European countries may now find it difficult to have confidence in America’s commitment to their defense.”
Trump has pursued the campaign against Iran without formal consultations with NATO and has not invoked Article 5, the alliance’s collective-defense clause. The conflict has stretched beyond a month, yet objectives such as regime change remain unclear. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven global oil prices sharply higher and worsened supply-chain fears, increasing the risk of a global economic slowdown.
Meanwhile, Trump signaled negotiations could end and hinted at the possible deployment of ground forces while again urging allies to join the military effort. Major European governments, however, continue to draw a line at direct intervention.
Anti-NATO sentiment appears to be growing within the United States as well. The Guardian reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegses and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “We need to reassess whether the alliance still delivers real benefits to the United States,” casting doubt on the existing alliance structure.
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