Kamal Ghorui
US president Donald Trump said on Wednesday he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato, calling the transatlantic alliance a “paper tiger” amid growing differences with European partners over the ongoing Iran conflict.In an interview with The Telegraph, Trump said leaving Nato was now “beyond reconsideration,” adding, “I was never swayed by Nato. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”
The remarks mark one of his strongest signals yet that Washington may reassess its long-standing security commitments in Europe.The comments come after Nato allies declined to support US calls to deploy forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route disrupted during the conflict with Iran. Nearly 20% of global oil flows through the strait, and its closure has driven volatility in global energy markets.Trump criticised allies for what he described as a lack of reciprocity. “We’ve been there automatically, including Ukraine… They weren’t there for us,” he said, referring to Western support during previous conflicts.The US president also took aim at the UK leadership, rebuking Keir Starmer over Britain’s decision not to join the US-Israel military effort. “You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” Trump said, while declining to directly advise London on defence spending.US secretary of state Marco Rubio echoed the criticism, calling Nato a “one-way street” and warning that Washington may “re-examine” its role after the conflict. He cited concerns over restricted access to allied military bases during the crisis.
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The debate has also revived questions around Nato’s Article 5 clause – the collective defence provision invoked only once after the September 11 attacks. Officials note the clause applies only when a member state is attacked, and not to offensive operations such as the current Iran conflict, which began with joint US-Israeli strikes. Separately, reports suggest the US administration is considering structural changes to NATO, including a “pay-to-play” model tied to defence spending and a potential drawdown of US troops from Germany.(With inputs from agencies)
