Trump Says U.S. to Review NATO Financial Contributions, Criticizes Allies Over Iran Tensions

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the United States will conduct a major review of its financial contributions to NATO.

Speaking to reporters, Trump criticized NATO allies for failing to support the U.S. during recent tensions involving Iran. "They were not there for us. Now they want to help, but there is no real threat anymore," he said.

Trump argued that the U.S. has shouldered a disproportionate burden in the alliance, noting it is the largest financial contributor. "We’ve spent trillions of dollars on NATO to protect others, including against Russia. When you think about it, we are protecting Europe from Russia. It’s somewhat absurd," he added.

His comments reflect ongoing frustrations expressed by Trump during his presidency regarding NATO spending, where he repeatedly urged allies to increase their defense contributions to meet the alliance's 2% of GDP target. The remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of transatlantic relations following recent developments in the Middle East.