The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, stated on Wednesday (April 8) that President Trump is still considering the possibility of the United States withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). They are expected to discuss this matter during the meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House in the afternoon.
President Trump has warned about leaving NATO, citing reasons such as the organization’s failure to assist the U.S. in military actions in Iran. He had urged NATO allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but with little success.
Following a two-week ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran, President Trump announced a temporary halt to military strikes against Iran. Iran had previously vowed to continue blocking the key passage with torpedoes and mines until the end of the war.
Leavitt mentioned that the President may speak after the meeting with Rutte. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 3:30 pm Eastern Time in the Oval Office.
Rutte, known as the “Trump whisperer” in Europe, has maintained a good relationship with President Trump despite the tense situation. According to a European official involved in the discussions, while the Iran conflict has heightened concerns on both sides of the Atlantic regarding Ukraine, Greenland, and defense spending, senior U.S. officials have privately assured European governments that the Trump administration remains committed to fulfilling NATO obligations.
As Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz led to a surge in global energy prices, officials indicated that during their meeting, Rutte might express shared interest in restoring normal maritime trade. It is expected that he will also inform U.S. leaders about the measures European countries are taking to increase defense spending.
NATO officials noted that Rutte will seek to enhance defense industry cooperation and discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine. However, NATO is a defensive alliance focused on North America and Europe, and it is currently unclear if it will play a broader role in the Middle East region.
In recent weeks, President Trump has referred to NATO as a “paper tiger”, offering no help when needed. Earlier this month, when asked about the possibility of withdrawing from NATO by Reuters reporters, Trump responded, “If you were me, wouldn’t you?”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated, “President Trump is disappointed with NATO and other allies for their unwillingness to assist in Operation Epic Fury.” She added, “As he has said, America will remember this.”
Prior to meeting with President Trump, Rutte held a separate meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the U.S. State Department on Wednesday morning. According to a press release from Rubio’s spokesperson after the meeting, “The two leaders discussed Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, and bolstering coordination and burden-sharing with NATO allies.”
In addition to meeting with President Trump and Rubio, Rutte also plans to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later in the day.