President Donald Trump criticized several European allies for declining to assist during the Iran conflict as NATO prepares for a July summit focused on defense spending, military readiness and burden-sharing.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of NATO allies ahead of a White House meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, saying several European nations failed to provide adequate support during the recent Iran conflict.
Trump told reporters Monday that some allies declined to assist during the war, responding, “No, we’d rather not help,” according to Stars and Stripes.
“Stupid thing to say because we can say that to them if we want, and we might,” Trump said, according to the military newspaper.
The president singled out Germany and Italy while also criticizing outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump said Starmer’s handling of the conflict showed weak leadership.
“This was not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with,” Trump said, according to Stars and Stripes.
Trump also argued that Starmer’s reluctance to support U.S.-led military action against Iran helped contribute to his political downfall, according to Reuters and Stars and Stripes. The president has repeatedly said Starmer’s limited role in the Iran operation reflected a lack of resolve at a time when Western allies were confronting a major security threat.
During the conflict, Britain largely restricted its role to defensive operations and support for allied forces rather than direct involvement in offensive strikes against Iran, according to Reuters and British government statements.
Trump’s remarks come as NATO leaders face renewed questions about American military commitments in Europe and whether European governments are prepared to assume a larger share of their own defense.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth recently ordered a review of U.S. force posture in Europe that could lead to reductions in American troop levels and military assets across the continent, according to Stars and Stripes and other reports.
The review has alarmed some European governments because the United States supplies many of NATO’s most important capabilities, including intelligence, logistics, airlift and advanced military systems that allies could not quickly replace, according to The Washington Post and NATO officials.
Rutte has acknowledged that European allies are working to address capability gaps after the Pentagon announced reductions in forces and weapons systems it would make available to Europe during a crisis, according to Stars and Stripes.
Reuters reported that the Pentagon changes include reductions in aircraft, drones, warships and other assets assigned to NATO contingency plans. The shift would require allies to take on more responsibility for regional defense.
Trump has long argued that NATO members spend too little on defense and rely too heavily on American military power. His administration has pressed alliance members to sharply increase defense spending, warning that the United States cannot indefinitely carry a disproportionate share of NATO’s costs and risks.
The force posture review has increased concerns among European officials that Washington may eventually reduce its military footprint in Europe as the administration redirects military resources toward other global priorities, according to AP and Reuters.
Rutte’s Washington visit is partly intended to prepare for NATO’s July 7-8 summit in Ankara, where alliance leaders are expected to address burden-sharing, military readiness and Europe’s role in its own defense, according to Reuters, AP and Stars and Stripes.
Rutte has largely supported calls for increased defense spending and has said European allies are moving to fill capability gaps and assume greater responsibility for NATO security, according to Reuters and Stars and Stripes.
Despite the tensions, Trump is expected to attend the Ankara summit. Alliance leaders are expected to seek unity while addressing a wide range of security challenges, including Russia, instability in the Middle East and uncertainty over NATO’s long-term structure.
Trump’s latest comments signal that burden-sharing will remain a central issue as the alliance prepares for the summit and as the administration weighs whether Europe should receive the same level of U.S. military support in future crises.
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