WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has questioned the United States’ continued level of support for NATO, describing Washington’s relationship with the transatlantic military alliance as “ridiculous” and “one-sided”.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump argued that the alliance had failed to reciprocate US support, writing: “They were not there for us!!!”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 3, 2026
Although Trump did not elaborate on the specific circumstances behind his remarks, his comments reflect his long-standing criticism that European allies have relied too heavily on the United States for collective defence while contributing insufficiently to the alliance.
The remarks come just days before a major NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, where alliance members are expected to discuss regional security, defence cooperation and broader geopolitical challenges.
Trump’s latest comments also follow disagreements over the approach taken by several European countries during the recent conflict involving Iran, adding to existing tensions between Washington and some of its NATO allies.
His remarks are likely to renew debate over the future of transatlantic security cooperation and burden-sharing within the alliance, an issue that has remained a recurring theme throughout his presidency.
