Live Updates > Live Update Details
2026-04-09 10:53:32
[Dissatisfied with NATO's "Standing By," Trump Criticizes Secretary General] 1. US President Donald Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with NATO during a private meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday. A White House spokesperson previously quoted Trump as saying, "They were tested, and they failed." Trump later posted on social media in all capitals: "When we need NATO, they aren't there; when we need them again, they won't be there." 2. Some NATO countries refused to support US military action against Iran, either by not allowing US aircraft to use their airspace or by refusing to send naval forces to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Rutte stated that some NATO countries failed to fulfill their commitments, but "the vast majority of European countries" provided assistance. He described his discussions with Trump as "very frank and very open." 3. In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly called NATO a "paper tiger" and threatened to withdraw from the 32-nation alliance. He believes that European allies rely on US security guarantees but have failed to provide sufficient support in the US-Israeli action against Iran. Although the US and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire, the diplomatic consequences of the conflict could last longer.
