Trump Threatens NATO Exit as Iran War Strains US-Europe Alliance. Tensions between the United States and its European allies have escalated after President Donald Trump said he is considering pulling the country out of NATO.
Trump’s comments came amid frustration that European members have refused to send naval forces to help secure the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing Iran conflict.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Trump said he had moved “beyond reconsideration” of U.S. membership in NATO, calling the alliance ineffective. “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too,” he said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The remarks followed comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who declined to clearly reaffirm U.S. commitment to NATO’s collective defense principle. That principle, known as Article 5, states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Security analysts warn that any suggestion the U.S. might not honor Article 5 could embolden Russia to test the alliance’s unity and readiness.
European leaders reacted cautiously. In France, junior defense minister Alice Rufo emphasized that NATO is designed to protect the Euro-Atlantic region and is not intended for operations in the Middle East.
Officials in Poland called for restraint. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said both sides need to lower tensions, noting that NATO depends on U.S. leadership, while American global power is also strengthened by the alliance.
A spokesperson for Germany reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to NATO, downplaying Trump’s remarks as part of a pattern seen before.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom would continue to act in its national interest, adding that the instability caused by the Iran war highlights the need for closer defense and economic cooperation within Europe.
The conflict with Iran has deepened existing divisions between the U.S. and Europe, which have grown since Trump began his second term. Disputes have ranged from trade policy to security issues, including Trump’s past proposal regarding Greenland.
European officials are also closely watching U.S. efforts to negotiate an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, amid concerns that Washington could support terms favorable to Moscow.
Military coordination has also been strained. France reportedly denied access to its airspace for flights carrying U.S. weapons linked to the Iran conflict, while Italy did not allow U.S. military aircraft to land at a base in Sicily en route to the Middle East. Both countries said these decisions were consistent with existing policies.
Spain went further, publicly stating it had closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in strikes on Iran.
Trump has also criticized the United Kingdom for not joining U.S. military operations in the conflict.
The situation has raised fresh questions about the future of NATO and the strength of transatlantic ties at a time of growing global instability.
Trump Threatens NATO Exit as Iran War Strains US-Europe Alliance
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