President Trump Says US-NATO Relationship Is Not Reciprocal

JAKARTA - President Donald Trump said on Thursday it was "silly" for the United States to continue its "one-sided" relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), less than a week before the alliance's summit in Ankara, Turkey.

President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "They are not there for us!!!" and Washington's relationship with NATO "is not reciprocal," as reported by Al Arabiya from AFP (3/7).

President Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for their response to the war in Iran, as several countries have restricted the use of bases for US forces.

The Republican politician also insisted he wants Europe to take a leading role in its own defense, and Washington has moved to reduce its commitments.

His Truth Social post on Thursday included a graphic showing NATO spending, with the United States investing far more than some other member countries depicted.

Under pressure from President Trump, NATO leaders had agreed at last year's meeting to increase defense-related spending to five percent of GDP by 2035.

The upcoming NATO summit, which will bring together 32 member countries, will be held in the Turkish capital on July 7-8.

The alliance, founded in 1949, is a US-led defense force that has played a key role in maintaining stability in Europe, containing the Soviet Union, and strengthening Washington as a world power for decades to come.