Trump Considers Punishing NATO Countries for Not Supporting War Against Iran

SadaNews - The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. administration officials, that President Donald Trump is considering a plan to punish some members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization "NATO" whom he believes have not provided sufficient support to the United States and Israel during the war against Iran.

The report added that the proposal includes withdrawing U.S. troops from countries in the alliance that Washington deems uncooperative in its war against Iran, and redeploying them to countries that have provided greater support for the U.S. military campaign.

In a post on his "Truth Social" account, Trump stated, "NATO was not there when we needed it, and it won’t be there if we need it again."

Trump had previously indicated that the United States might consider withdrawing from NATO after member countries ignored his call for assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping corridor, after Iran closed it.

White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt, in response to a question earlier Wednesday about whether Trump is still considering withdrawing from NATO, stated, "This is a topic the president has discussed, and I believe it will be a topic of his conversation in a few hours with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately met with Rutte on Wednesday at the State Department, ahead of the White House talks.

The State Department stated in a statement that Rubio and Rutte discussed the war with Iran, along with U.S. efforts to negotiate an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war, and "increased coordination and burden-sharing with NATO allies."