Summary
- US President Donald Trump said he is seriously considering a US withdrawal from NATO.
- Trump said he criticized NATO as a paper tiger against the backdrop of the alliance’s refusal to deploy forces to Iran.
- Trump said he plans to deliver a nationwide address on the Iran war at 10 a.m. on the 2nd.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
US President Donald Trump said he is “seriously considering withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).”
In an interview with the UK daily The Telegraph published on the 31st (local time), Trump was asked whether he would revisit the United States’ status as a NATO member. He replied, “Yes. (The issue) has gone beyond something merely open to review,” adding, “I’ve always known they (NATO) are a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too.” The Telegraph reported it as “a strong signal that the White House no longer sees Europe as a reliable defense partner.”
Behind the remarks is NATO’s refusal to deploy forces to Iran. Trump had previously urged NATO and other allies to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said, “Frankly, it was hard to believe, beyond the level of them (NATO) not being there (in Iran),” adding, “I think it (a deployment) should happen automatically.”
He also criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he would not intervene in the Iran conflict. Trump said, “(The UK) doesn’t even have a navy,” adding, “You (the UK) are too old, and your aircraft carriers didn’t work properly.”
Meanwhile, Trump plans to deliver a nationwide address on the Iran war at 10 a.m. on the 2nd (Korea time).
JOON HYOUNG LEE
gilson@bloomingbit.ioCrypto Journalist based in Seoul
