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Key facts
- Donald Trump described the U.S. relationship with NATO as "one-sided" and "not reciprocal."
- Trump stated it is "ridiculous" for the U.S. to continue this path.
- He claimed the U.S. has spent more money on the alliance than any other country without receiving benefit.
- Trump shared a chart comparing NATO members' defense spending.
- The upcoming NATO summit is scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, Türkiye.
U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to criticize the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), describing the alliance's relationship with the United States as "one-sided" and "not reciprocal."
In posts on the social media platform, Trump stated it was "ridiculous" for the U.S. to continue on this path, asserting that the U.S. had spent more money on the alliance to protect other members without receiving any benefit. He also claimed that allies "were not there for us!!!"
Trump shared a chart comparing defense spending among NATO members, highlighting the significant expenditure by the United States compared to other nations. The U.S. president has frequently criticized European allies, particularly regarding their response to the conflict with Iran and their perceived lack of contribution to collective defense.
The upcoming NATO summit is scheduled to take place in Ankara, Türkiye, on July 7-8, bringing together leaders from the alliance's 32 member states. Under pressure from Trump, NATO leaders had previously agreed to increase defense-related spending to five percent of GDP by 2035.