Trump threat to exit NATO remains on the table, warns former aide

John Bolton spoke after Trump held long-awaited talks at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

In recent weeks, the US president has repeatedly criticized countries in the Western alliance for not supporting US military operations against Iran.

US withdrawal from NATO ‘possible’

Bolton, who served as national security adviser during Trump’s first administration, was asked this morning on Today whether the president could withdraw the US from NATO.

He replied “it is possible” and explained that there is “always a risk” that the US, the world’s post-mighty military power, will leave the Western alliance under Trump.

Bolton has previously said that Trump may withdraw US troops from NATO missions in Europe

NATO, formally known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was founded in 1949 with twelve core member states, including the US, Canada, Britain, France and Denmark, and has since expanded to 32 members.

Trump has repeatedly raised concerns with NATO since his first term as president, criticizing other alliance countries as “freeloaders” who were too dependent on the massive US defense budget.

But withdrawing the US from NATO is not that easy for any American president

Under a law passed in 2023, such a move would require the approval of Congress, where many members are staunch supporters of the defense pact.

In the weeks leading up to yesterday’s meeting, Trump described NATO as a “paper tiger” for its unwillingness to join the war against Iran or allow US forces to use its bases.

He continued his criticism after having closed-door discussions with Rutte yesterday.

“NATO wasn’t there when we needed it, and it won’t be there when we need it again,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Two European diplomats familiar with their discussion told CNN that the US president has urged urgent concrete action from NATO members to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

A fifth of the world’s oil transports go by waterway.

Rutte said after his visit to the White House that Trump was “clearly disappointed” that US allies had not joined the conflict with Iran.

He described their conversations as a “very frank, very open” discussion between “two good friends.”

But the NATO chief also said 34 countries, including Australia, are now building an international coalition to reopen the strait.

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