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After saying that countries “which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran” should “start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore”, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he is considering exiting NATO.
Calling the security alliance a “paper tiger”, Mr. Trump told British daily The Telegraph, “Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration (pulling out of NATO). I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”
The U.S. President is scheduled to address the nation on Wednesday night (early Thursday morning in India).
Mr. Trump’s criticism of the NATO comes after the alliance partners – mainly the U.K, France, and Spain – refused to join the Iran war and help in reopening the Strait of Hormuz that has been shut ever since the war began a month ago. With 20% of the global oil flow choked by Iran, gas and petroleum prices have spiked in Europe and in the U.S., with crude oil prices hitting $120 per barrel last month. Gasoline in the U.S. has climbed above $4 per gallon.
Mr. Trump said it was “hard to believe” that NATO did not answer his call to join the war. “Beyond not being there, it was actually hard to believe. And I didn’t do a big sale. I just said, ‘Hey’, you know, I didn’t insist too much. I just think it should be automatic. We’ve been there automatically, including Ukraine. Ukraine wasn’t our problem. It was a test, and we were there for them, and we would always have been there for them. They weren’t there for us,” he told the daily.
He slammed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and questioned the British navy’s abilities. “You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” he said. “I’m not going to tell him [Mr. Starmer] what to do. He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t matter. All Starmer wants is costly windmills that are driving your energy prices through the roof,” he said.
‘Not our war’
Responding to the U.S. President’s comments, Mr. Starmer reaffirmed his faith in the NATO calling it “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen”. “It has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to NATO,” he said.
Saying that “whatever the noise”, Mr. Starmer reiterated his stand on the war. “Whatever the pressure on me and others… I am going to act in the British national interest in all decisions that I make. That’s why I have been absolutely clear that this is not our war, or we are not going to get dragged into it.”
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump had posted on Truth Social that the “The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”, referring to the constant refusal by NATO members to join the conflict. He hit out at U.K. and France.
In one post, he wrote: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
Slamming France, Mr. Trump posted, “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the “Butcher of Iran,” who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”
The U.S. President always has had an on-and-off relationship with NATO. He has accused member countries of piggybacking on the U.S. for their security interests and spending less on defence. In the 2024 election campaign, he had notoriously encouraged Russia to attack NATO members that do not spend enough on defence. Earlier this year, he had threatened to invade Greenland, a territory of Denmark, which is a NATO member.
Published – April 01, 2026 05:03 pm IST
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U.S. is considering exiting ‘paper tiger NATO’, says Trump
