U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday again criticized NATO and made threats regarding the seizure of Greenland after meeting with the alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte, LETA reports, citing AFP.
Trump's dissatisfaction with other NATO countries for their refusal to join his war against Iran has heightened concerns that he will attempt to push for the U.S. withdrawal from the North Atlantic Alliance.
It was expected that the meeting with Rutte would discuss a possible U.S. exit from this security bloc, however, in his initial statements after the meeting, Trump merely expressed his dissatisfaction once again.
"NATO was not there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again," Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social.
"Remember Greenland — that big, poorly managed chunk of ice!" he added, without going into details.
Before the war against Iran, initiated by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, Trump's threats to take Greenland from NATO member Denmark were a significant issue that shook the alliance.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Rutte, who is referred to as "Trump's whisperer" for his ability to please him, entered the West Wing of the White House through a side entrance, and their meeting was held behind closed doors.
"It was a very candid, very open discussion," Rutte later stated in an interview with American television channel CNN.
Rutte did not directly answer the repeatedly asked question of whether Trump raised the topic of NATO withdrawal during the meeting.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated to reporters before the meeting that a possible exit was "something the president has discussed, and I think he will discuss it for several hours with Secretary General Rutte."
However, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering an alternative option — to punish some NATO countries that did not allow U.S. armed forces to use bases on their territory during the war.
The meeting took place the day after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
Trump called NATO a "paper tiger" due to the alliance's refusal to lead efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as well as due to restrictions on U.S. forces using bases in alliance countries.
Trump personally criticized leaders of several NATO countries, stating that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer "is no Winston Churchill," and referred to British aircraft carriers as "toys."
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump is unlikely to attempt a complete U.S. withdrawal from NATO, as this would require approval from the U.S. Congress.
Before his visit to the White House, Rutte met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Iran, Russia's war against Ukraine, and NATO commitments.
Rutte is also expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during his visit to Washington.
