U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned NATO’s role in supporting American security interests, signaling a possible U.S. exit from NATO.
In a statement on April 15 on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that the alliance “wasn’t there” and “won’t be there in the future.”
“NATO wasn’t there for us, and they won’t be there for us in the future,” he noted.
These remarks come amid heightened tensions over NATO’s level of involvement in ongoing international security operations.
Operationally, the statement signals a possible shift in U.S. strategic posture amid the ongoing war, with the blockade still in place and allied states reportedly exploring alternative security frameworks.
Trump Repeatedly Criticizes NATO Over Iran Conflict and Strait of Hormuz Response
The U.S. President has made repeated public statements criticizing NATO over what he describes as a lack of support during the ongoing Iran-related conflict and operations linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
On April 9, 2026, shortly after a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington, Trump stated that NATO partners were not there when the U.S. needed them.
The comments followed the allied refusal to commit forces or provide direct operational support for U.S.-linked maritime security actions.
Also Read: Trump to Discuss Possible NATO Withdrawal in Meeting with Alliance Chief
The President renewed his criticism while announcing a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after peace negotiations collapsed ON April 12.
He expressed disappointment that NATO had declined to assist in securing the waterway and noted that allied participation came only after earlier refusals.
“We’re very disappointed with NATO, we’re very, very disappointed that they didn’t come. Now they want to come and they want to help with the strait. And it won’t take long to clean it out. So we’re going to clean out the strait. And they will be able to use the strait in not too long a distance,” he said.
Trump stated that NATO nations had not contributed to efforts related to Iran and suggested the United States would continue operations independently.
NATO Chief Confirms Full Support for Trump in Iran Conflict
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NATO Chief Mark Rutte said alliance members are now fully supporting U.S. operations in Iran, despite earlier delays in response. He made the remarks in Washington after meeting President Donald Trump.
Rutte noted that some NATO allies were initially slow to provide logistical and operational support during U.S. military actions in Iran. He said the delays were partly due to limited prior notification of the initial strikes, which were kept confidential for operational reasons.
He added that the situation has since improved, with most European allies now responding to U.S. requests. According to Rutte, current contributions from NATO members have increased significantly since the initial phase of the operation.
Rutte stated that “nearly without exception” allies are now meeting U.S. expectations, describing the level of support as substantial across Europe.
