Trump Signals Potential U.S. Withdrawal from NATO, Labels Alliance a “Paper Tiger”

By Juliet Julius Bitrus. 

WASHINGTON, President Donald Trump has stated he is strongly considering withdrawing the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), characterizing the transatlantic military alliance as a “paper tiger.”

In an exclusive interview published Wednesday by the British newspaper The Telegraph, Trump expressed long-standing doubts about the alliance’s strength and effectiveness amid ongoing tensions with European partners.

“I would say it’s beyond reconsideration,” Trump said. “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too.”

Trump’s remarks stem from repeated frustration with NATO allies’ reluctance to support his proposal for a naval coalition to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz  a critical global chokepoint effectively closed by Iran during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to the President, alliance members failed to provide adequate backing for the initiative. “Beyond not being there, it was actually hard to believe,” he said. “I didn’t push too hard. I just said, ‘Hey.’ I thought it should be automatic.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed these concerns, indicating that Washington may need to fundamentally reassess its commitment to NATO once the current conflict concludes.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Rubio  a former strong proponent of the alliance during his Senate tenure  highlighted the strategic value of U.S. military bases across Europe. However, he warned that the alliance risks becoming a “one-way street” if European partners restrict American access to those facilities when U.S. national interests are at stake.

“If we’ve reached a point where NATO means we can’t use those bases to defend America’s interests, then NATO becomes a one-way street,” Rubio said.

His comments follow reports that several European nations, including Italy and Spain, denied U.S. aircraft overflight rights or landing permissions during operations related to the conflict with Iran.

Despite the sharp criticism from Washington, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vigorously defended NATO, describing it as “the most effective military alliance the world has ever seen.”

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Starmer emphasized the alliance’s enduring role in upholding collective defense and global security. “It has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to NATO,” he said.

Starmer also announced that the United Kingdom will host a meeting of approximately 35 countries this week to explore diplomatic and political solutions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The discussions, to be chaired by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, will address safe passage for vessels and seafarers, as well as the restoration of global energy flows.

Once the talks conclude, military planners may convene to examine options for international forces to secure the waterway after hostilities subside.

Several nations, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands, have already signaled willingness to contribute to efforts guaranteeing safe navigation through the strait.

The strategically vital waterway has remained largely closed since the outbreak of conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran on February 28, severely disrupting global energy markets. In peacetime, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits the Strait of Hormuz.