Trump Criticizes Europe Again Despite NATO Chief's Explanation: "Would Have Been Nice If They Said They Wanted to Help"

▲ U.S. President Donald Trump attending the G7 Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly criticized European NATO allies on June 24 (local time) in the presence of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who visited him.

During a Q&A session with reporters after meeting with Secretary General Rutte at the White House in Washington D.C. that day, President Trump named Italy, the U.K., Germany, France, and Spain, reiterating his claim that these countries did not provide assistance in the Iran war.

President Trump stated, "We were disappointed. We didn't need any help on this (the Iran war). We literally decimated them (Iran) in the first week," adding, "But it would have been nice if they had said, 'We want to help too.'"

While Secretary General Rutte attempted to appease President Trump by saying, "I fully agree that there was a reason to be disappointed," he also explained Europe's position, noting, "I don't disagree with President Trump significantly on this issue, but slightly."

Citing Germany and others as examples, Secretary General Rutte said, "From the first day (of the war), we fulfilled our bilateral commitments to the U.S.," and added, "As a result, 4,000 to 5,000 U.S. aircraft were able to sortie from Europe. It would have been difficult to carry out the Iran operation if Europe had not served as a power projection platform for the U.S."

However, President Trump continued his criticism toward European nations, saying, "I just want their loyalty. We don't need their money. We don't need anything else."

President Trump reminded them that the U.S. spends a significant amount on stationing troops in Europe, stating, "We are very loyal to them. We always fight for them."

He continued by pointing out that the U.S. only expects "a little nudge and a little kiss" from Europe, but "they say, 'No, we can't.'"

He also mentioned that candidates he supported in Poland and Colombia were elected president despite being behind in the polls, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently announced his resignation after failing to follow his line.

These remarks could be interpreted as an attempt to force other European leaders to fall in line.

Regarding Europe's increase in defense spending, President Trump said, "They agreed six months ago to spend 5% of their GDP. But most of them are not spending it properly yet."

In response, Secretary General Rutte countered, "We agreed to give them a few years," and emphasized, "Germany is doubling its defense spending between 2021 and 2029," adding that the Netherlands, Poland, and Denmark are doing the same.

Secretary General Rutte's visit is interpreted as a move to ease the heightened tensions between the U.S. and its European allies ahead of the annual NATO summit to be held in Turkey from July 7 to 8.

President Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from NATO, arguing that allies turned their backs when the U.S. needed help, as some European countries refused to allow the use of their bases for U.S. military assets and rejected troop deployments to the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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