The NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, took a tense turn on Tuesday as President Trump expressed his disappointment with the alliance's lack of support for the US in Iran.
During a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump suggested that he might draw down the US troop presence in Europe, citing his dissatisfaction with NATO's response to the US' efforts in Iran.
Trump further emphasized his disappointment with NATO, stating that he "wouldn't have attended" the summit if it weren't held in Turkey, where he described Erdoğan as a "friend and a very strong leader."
The President's comments come amidst an ongoing feud with NATO over the alliance's refusal to help the US secure the Strait of Hormuz, with some member countries even barring the US from using their bases.
Trump has been critical of NATO on numerous occasions, calling the alliance a "paper tiger" and questioning the value of US contributions to the alliance.
He has reportedly been considering pulling US troops out of Europe and even leaving the alliance altogether, citing the US' significant financial contributions to NATO without receiving adequate support in return.
The US spends more than 90% of NATO's total budget, with a total of $999 billion allocated to the alliance between 2014 and 2025, compared to the UK's $90.5 billion, France's $66.5 billion, and Italy's $48.8 billion.
Tensions between the US and NATO have been escalating in recent months, with Trump's comments at the summit only adding to the growing unease.
The President's stance on NATO has left many wondering whether the alliance's future is at risk, with some suggesting that the US may eventually withdraw from the organization altogether.
