Trump Considers U.S. Withdrwal from "Paper Tiger" NATO as Rift Deepens

U.S. President Donald Trump has openly questioned NATO’s future, saying he is considering withdrawing from the alliance after what he described as a failure by allies to support US operations in the Iran war.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Trump described NATO as a “paper tiger” and said leaving the alliance was now “beyond reconsideration,” marking one of the strongest signals yet of a potential U.S. policy shift.

The dispute centers on NATO allies declining to send naval forces to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil and gas supplies normally pass.

Trump had framed the Iran conflict as a test of alliance solidarity on his speeches last week when he said, “this was a test for NATO… If you didn’t, we’re going to remember that.”

He added: “If the ‘big one’ ever happened, I guarantee you they wouldn’t be there,” questioning the reliability of NATO’s mutual defense commitments.

Trump also signaled uncertainty about continued US guarantees: “We are always going to be there - at least we were; I don’t know anymore, to be honest with you.”

The alliance’s Article 5 clause, invoked only once after the 9/11 attacks, applies strictly to defensive scenarios and does not cover offensive operations such as the Iran war, which began on February 28.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced the message, calling NATO a “one-way street” and warning that Washington may “re-examine” the relationship after the conflict.

Rubio cited allies’ refusal to grant access to military bases as a key point of contention.

Trump singled out the United Kingdom, criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and questioning British military capacity. “You don’t even have a navy,” he said.

He also attacked UK energy policy, linking defense commitments to broader economic priorities.

The comments come amid renewed US pressure on NATO members to increase defense spending and meet burden-sharing expectations.

The administration had announced considering structural changes to NATO earlier, including a “pay-to-play” model that could limit decision-making rights for members that do not meet funding thresholds.

Officials are also weighing a potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Germany, a move previously discussed but not implemented.

Trump said the war could end within “two weeks, maybe three,” with the stated goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.