US-NATO rift deepens? Trump criticises allies, raises Greenland issue again

Washington: Fresh tensions are brewing between the United States and NATO after President Donald Trump publicly criticised the alliance following a closed-door meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The meeting, held at the White House, came at a sensitive moment, just a day after the US and Iran agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire. While many expected clarity on whether Washington might pull back from NATO, Trump instead doubled down on his frustration with allies.

“NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN,” Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after the talks.

Why Trump is angry with NATO

At the heart of the tension is Trump’s dissatisfaction with NATO countries for not backing US military actions against Iran. His repeated criticism has raised concerns about the future of the alliance, which has been a cornerstone of Western security for nearly 80 years.

Trump has also accused NATO members of not doing enough militarily and financially, issues he has raised multiple times in the past.

Greenland remark raises eyebrows again

Adding to the unease, Trump unexpectedly brought up Greenland, reviving an old controversy.

“REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!” he posted, without offering further details.

His earlier suggestion of taking control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark (a NATO ally), had already strained relations within the bloc.

Despite the sharp remarks, there was no clear confirmation that the US plans to exit NATO.

Rutte described the meeting as constructive, saying, “It was a very frank, it was a very open discussion,” in an interview after the talks. However, when repeatedly asked whether Trump had indicated plans to leave the alliance, he avoided giving a direct answer.

The uncertainty has kept concerns alive, especially as the White House acknowledged that a potential withdrawal is something Trump has discussed before.

Possible next moves: Troop shifts instead of exit?

According to reports, the US may consider moving troops out of certain NATO countries that it views as uncooperative, rather than fully withdrawing from the alliance.

Such a move would still mark a major shift in US defence strategy and could impact security dynamics across Europe.

NATO has faced mounting challenges since Trump returned to power, including disagreements over defense spending, the war in Ukraine, and now the Iran conflict.

Trump has previously called the alliance a “paper tiger” and has openly criticised leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

With AFP inputs