U.S. President Donald Trump said he is seriously considering withdrawing the United States from NATO, sharply criticizing the alliance after it declined to support the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, according to an interview with The Telegraph.
Trump described NATO as a “paper tiger” and said leaving the alliance was now “beyond reconsideration,” signaling a deepening rift between Washington and its European allies.
The remarks come after NATO members refused a U.S. request to deploy naval forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply typically passes. Iran has effectively shut down the strait for weeks, driving up global energy prices and raising concerns about a wider economic impact.
“I was never swayed by NATO,” Trump told The Telegraph. “I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too.”
He expressed frustration that allies did not back the U.S. during the conflict, contrasting it with past American support for partners, including Ukraine.
“We’ve been there automatically,” he said. “They weren’t there for us.”
Trump also singled out Britain, criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer for declining to join the military campaign and questioning the readiness of the Royal Navy.
“You don’t even have a navy,” Trump said. “You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work.”
The comments reflect growing anger within the administration over what it sees as a lack of support from long-standing allies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized NATO, calling it a “one-way street” and warning that the U.S. may reassess its role in the alliance after the conflict ends.
“If NATO is just about us defending Europe if they’re attacked, but them denying us basing rights when we need them, that’s not a very good arrangement,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News.
Trump said he agreed with Rubio’s assessment.
The president is expected to deliver a televised address outlining the status of the war, which he has said could end within “two to three weeks.” He has maintained that the campaign’s objective is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The conflict began on Feb. 28 with joint U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran.
The dispute has also renewed debate over NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The provision has been invoked only once, following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
However, the clause applies only when a NATO member is attacked, meaning it does not cover the current war with Iran.
The Telegraph also reported that Trump is weighing broader changes to NATO, including a “pay-to-play” model that would limit influence for members that do not meet defense spending targets. He is also considering withdrawing U.S. troops from Germany.
The developments point to a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy and its long-standing security commitments to Europe.