President Donald Trump tore into the NATO alliance on social media, accusing members of leaving the United States in the lurch. A part of the post also showed his fixation on Greenland. The broadside landed just hours after he wrapped a two-hour Oval Office sit-down with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Donald Trump slams NATO in new post
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump expressed frustration with the transatlantic alliance while reviving his controversial interest in the Arctic territory. The post is a revival of tension between the president and important European partners. “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!” Trump said.
The timing is no accident. The White House has made little secret of its irritation with European allies who have declined to join the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has largely toed the U.S. line on the matter, but that backing hasn’t stopped Trump from publicly questioning the value of the whole arrangement.
Congressional approval is required for a full U.S. withdrawal from NATO. European officials have stated that Trump’s threats alone have already weakened the alliance’s stability. Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the future of the partnership. “Ultimately, that’s a decision for the President to make, and he’ll have to make it,” Rubio told Fox News.
Rubio questioned whether the arrangement still benefits American interests. “But I do think, unfortunately, we are going to have to re-examine whether or not this Alliance that has served this country well for a while is still serving that purpose, or is it now become a one-way street where America is simply in a position to defend Europe, but when we need the help of our Allies, they’re going to deny us basing rights and they’re going to deny us overflight,” he added.
Now, Trump’s reference to Greenland revived an issue from earlier this year.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
