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Key facts
- President Donald Trump criticized U.S. ties with NATO.
- Trump described the relationship as "one-sided" and "ridiculous."
- He stated the alliance is not reciprocal.
- Trump believes Washington bears a disproportionate burden.
- The comments were made on Truth Social.
President Donald Trump has voiced strong criticism regarding the United States' involvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), characterizing the alliance as "one-sided" and "ridiculous." In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the relationship is not reciprocal, implying that the U.S. shoulders an unfair share of the burden within the collective defense pact. His remarks underscore a recurring theme in his foreign policy discourse, focusing on the perceived financial and military inequities among NATO members. Trump's public commentary suggests a continued skepticism towards the existing structure of the alliance and the distribution of responsibilities among its 30 member nations. The comments come amid ongoing discussions and pressures from the U.S. administration for European allies to increase their defense spending and contributions to NATO's collective security efforts. The alliance, founded in 1949, operates on the principle of collective defense, where an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.