(REUTERS) Trump says the U.S. is 'very disappointed' with NATO for failing to support it in the conflict with Iran

“One thing we're very disappointed, I'll say it publicly, we're very disappointed with NATO, because NATO's done absolutely nothing. And I've always said 25 years ago, I mean, I was somebody that wasn't a politician. But I was always involved in politics, and I understood politics. I said 25 years ago that NATO's a paper tiger, but more importantly, that we’ll come to their rescue, but they will never come to ours. And I want you to remember that we said this. They didn't come to our rescue. Now they all want to help when they're annihilated, the other side is annihilated. They said, 'We'd love to send ships.' They actually made a statement, a couple of them, that we want to get involved when the war is over. No, it's supposed to get involved with the war's beginning or even before it begins.”

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said he had long viewed NATO as a “paper tiger,” arguing that while the United States consistently defends its allies, the commitment is not reciprocated. “We’ll come to their rescue, but they will never come to ours,” he said.

Trump added that some NATO members had only offered to get involved after the fighting was effectively over, rather than at the outset. He said he had invited allies to contribute during the conflict, including sending ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, describing the situation as a “test” of NATO that, in his view, the alliance failed.

He also renewed complaints about defense spending, saying allies had failed to meet financial commitments despite U.S. pressure to increase contributions.

Trump said the United States had carried the burden of protecting Europe, including against Russia, but did not receive support in return.

Posted by: Alma Angeles/NET25 News