WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on July 2 called it "ridiculous" for the United States to maintain its "one-sided" relationship with NATO, less than a week before the NATO summit scheduled in Ankara, Turkey.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, stating, "They were not there for us!!!" and described Washington's relationship with NATO as "not reciprocal."

He has repeatedly criticized European allies over their response to the war in Iran, noting that several countries restricted the use of bases for U.S. forces. Trump insists that Europe should take the lead in its own defense, and the U.S. has already begun scaling back its commitments.

His Truth Social post included a chart showing NATO spending, highlighting that the United States invests significantly more than other member states depicted. Under pressure from Trump, NATO leaders agreed last year to increase defense-related spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035.

The NATO alliance, founded in 1949, has been credited with maintaining stability in Europe, deterring the Soviet Union, and establishing Washington as a global power for decades.

Trump has also indicated he may attempt to withdraw the U.S. from NATO, though such a move would require Congressional approval.

The upcoming NATO summit will bring together 32 member states and is set to take place in the Turkish capital on July 7-8.

Sources