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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that he is seriously considering his country's withdrawal from NATO amidst rising tensions with European allies due to a lack of support in the war against Iran.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, the president described the military alliance as a "paper tiger" and questioned its strategic usefulness to Washington.
The statements come after several NATO member countries refused to participate in operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Tehran for weeks.
About 20% of the world's oil passes through this route, and its closure has caused energy prices to soar and increased fears of a global recession.
Trump expressed his frustration with what he sees as a lack of reciprocity from Europe. He stated that the United States has historically supported its allies, even in conflicts like that of Ukraine, but is not receiving the same level of commitment now. “They were not there for us,” he asserted.
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, reinforced this position by stating that the relationship with NATO could be "reexamined" once the conflict with Iran is resolved.
Rubio criticized that some countries have not allowed the use of military bases for U.S. operations, which, in his view, highlights an imbalance in the alliance.
Trump's criticisms also targeted the United Kingdom and its Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, questioning the British military's capabilities and its lack of involvement in the conflict. The statements reflect a deterioration in transatlantic relations at a time of high international tension.
The potential withdrawal of the United States from NATO would mark a historic shift in the country’s foreign policy and would raise concerns about the future of the alliance, particularly regarding the principle of collective defense.
Although this mechanism is only activated in the event of an attack on a member, the current crisis has reopened the debate about the real role of the alliance in global conflicts.
In this context, the White House announced that Trump will deliver a speech to the nation to communicate an "important update" regarding the war in Iran, which has heightened expectations for a possible change in direction in the conflict.
For his part, Rubio stated that the "goal" is near and supported the idea that the United States could withdraw within a "two to three weeks" timeframe.
Although Trump stated that the military operation achieved a "regime change" in Iran —something he claimed was not the initial objective— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that military actions have not yet concluded and that the fall of the Iranian regime could only be a matter of time.
Trump claims that the objective of the war is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and asserts that the conflict could be resolved in a few weeks. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding NATO adds pressure to an already unstable international scenario.
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