What's happened
Since early April 2026, President Trump has publicly criticised NATO allies for their limited support in the US-Israeli war on Iran, calling them "cowards" and a "paper tiger." He has threatened to withdraw US troops from uncooperative countries and reconsider US membership in NATO. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has met Trump multiple times, acknowledging US frustrations but defending European contributions. The alliance faces its deepest strain in decades.
What's behind the headline?
NATO's Deepest Crisis Since Founding
The US-led war on Iran has exposed fundamental fractures within NATO, the transatlantic alliance that has underpinned Western security for over seven decades. President Trump's public denunciations of European allies as "cowards" and a "paper tiger" reveal a breakdown in trust and shared strategic priorities.
US Leverage and Threats
Trump is leveraging US military presence in Europe as a bargaining chip, threatening to withdraw troops from countries deemed unhelpful in the Iran conflict. This move will destabilize NATO's integrated defense posture and weaken collective deterrence, especially given Europe's current dependence on US capabilities in intelligence, logistics, and strike capacity.
European Response and Limitations
European NATO members have increased defense spending by over 60% since 2020 but remain reliant on US military assets for deep strike and advanced surveillance. The reluctance to engage directly in the Iran war reflects political and public opposition, complicating alliance cohesion.
The Greenland Factor
Trump's repeated threats to seize Greenland from Denmark have added a personal and diplomatic dimension to the alliance's strain, undermining confidence in US commitment to NATO's collective security.
Forecast
Without a significant shift in US-European relations and clearer burden-sharing agreements, NATO will continue to face existential challenges. The alliance's credibility as a collective defense organization will erode if the US reduces its military footprint or signals unwillingness to defend allies. European nations will accelerate efforts to build autonomous defense capabilities, but this will take years and substantial investment.
Impact on Global Security
The weakening of NATO risks emboldening adversaries like Russia and China, who are observing these divisions closely. The transatlantic alliance's future depends on reconciling US demands with European political realities and restoring mutual trust.
How we got here
NATO, founded in 1949 to counter Soviet threats, has relied on US military leadership and guarantees. Since February 2026, the US and Israel have waged war on Iran, prompting Trump to demand greater NATO support. European allies have largely refrained from direct military involvement, causing tensions. Trump has also threatened to seize Greenland, further straining relations within the alliance.
Our analysis
Virginia Pietromarchi of Al Jazeera highlights the unprecedented strain on NATO, quoting experts who say "we are closer to a break than we have ever been" and detailing Europe's increased defense spending but continued reliance on US military capabilities. Anton Troianovski of the New York Times reports on Trump's social media outbursts calling NATO "very disappointing" and the diplomatic efforts by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to manage tensions during multiple White House meetings. The Wall Street Journal, cited by Al Jazeera and France 24, reveals Trump's consideration of moving US troops out of countries seen as unhelpful during the Iran war, a move short of full NATO withdrawal but damaging nonetheless. The New York Post offers a partisan perspective, praising Trump's hardline stance against Iran and criticizing NATO allies as "weak cowardly nations," reflecting a more aggressive US domestic viewpoint. Meanwhile, Rutte's comments to CNN and other outlets emphasize a nuanced picture, acknowledging US disappointment but defending the majority of European contributions, including basing and logistics support. Together, these sources illustrate a complex and deteriorating transatlantic relationship, with Trump driving a wedge through public criticism and military threats, while European leaders attempt damage control amid growing doubts about NATO's future.
Go deeper
- Why is Trump threatening to leave NATO?
- How are European NATO members responding to US criticism?
- What impact will this have on global security?
More on these topics
-
Donald Trump - 45th and 47th U.S. President
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
-
Mark Rutte - Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Mark Rutte is a Dutch politician serving as Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010 and Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy since 2006.
-
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.
-
Iran - Country in the Middle East
Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
-
United States - Country in North America
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
-
Karoline Leavitt - American writer and political aide (born 1997)
Karoline Leavitt (born August 24, 1997) is an American political spokesperson who has served as the 36th White House press secretary since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, she was the party's nominee in the 2022 election for New Hampshire's 1st...
-
Israel - Country in the Middle East
Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.