US President Donald Trump has questioned his commitment to defending NATO allies unless they contribute sufficiently to their own defense. Trumps stated in the Oval Office that it makes sense not to defend countries that dont pay, emphasizing that he has held this view for years.

NATO has responded to Trumps remarks, with Secretary General Mark Rutte affirming that the transatlantic relationship remains the foundation of the alliance. Rutte also noted Trumps commitment to NATO and the expectation that Europe increase its defense spending.

Trumps comments come at a time of criticism over his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and potential impacts on US support for Ukraine, where leaders are concerned about security commitments. Despite historical and current concerns about NATO spending, the alliance invoked the mutual assistance clause in response to the 9/11 attacks, with France being among those that assisted.

The defense issue is not new for Trump, who has long been critical

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/07/donald-trump-nato-alliance-us-security-support