WASHINGTON: US President Donald J. Trump has criticised NATO allies and Italy in a social media post, accusing them of relying heavily on US defence commitments while avoiding potential involvement in security challenges related to Iran.
In a post published on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that European allies had benefited from decades of US military and financial support but were reluctant to engage on what he described as emerging threats linked to Iran’s nuclear programme.
He specifically referenced Italy and its prime minister, suggesting that Rome would not consider deeper involvement in addressing Iran-related security concerns despite what he called long-standing American support for NATO and European defence.
Trump further argued that the United States had “defended” its allies for decades but was not consistently receiving reciprocal support in return. He described the situation as “not good” in his post.
The comments come amid ongoing debates in Washington and European capitals over burden-sharing within NATO and differing approaches to Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security role.
Trump, who is expected to play a prominent role in US political discourse ahead of future elections, has repeatedly criticised NATO allies in the past, arguing that European countries should increase their defence spending and take greater responsibility for regional security.
The post did not include any official policy announcement and was not immediately responded to by NATO or Italian government officials.
