US President Donald Trump on Monday criticised NATO allies for failing to support Washington during the war in Iran, while again expressing his intention to annex Greenland. His remarks came ahead of an expected visit to Washington by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte later this week.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he approached NATO members about assisting in the conflict but received little response. He claimed allies declined to help and “went out of their way not to help,” although he did not name specific countries. As a result, he described the alliance as a “paper tiger” and suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not view NATO as a serious threat.
Tensions rise ahead of key Washington talks
Meanwhile, Rutte is scheduled to meet Trump on Wednesday alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The talks are expected to address alliance coordination and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
However, Trump’s remarks highlight growing friction between Washington and its traditional allies. He also extended criticism to non-NATO partners such as South Korea, Australia, and Japan, accusing them of not contributing to the Iran conflict.
Greenland dispute resurfaces amid criticism
In addition, Trump reiterated his long-standing ambition to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO member. He linked the dispute to broader dissatisfaction with the alliance, stating that tensions began over the issue.
“They don’t want to give it to us,” Trump said, reaffirming his stance. Conversely, he praised Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, for supporting US efforts during the conflict.
