President Donald Trump (R-US) criticized NATO allies during the first day of a summit in Ankara, Turkey, for failing to support the U.S. war on Iran.
The tension highlights a growing rift between the United States and its allies regarding military spending, and strategic priorities in the Middle East. Trump's rhetoric suggests a potential shift in U.S. commitment to the alliance if member nations do not provide more assistance.
Speaking March 26, 2026, Trump said he was "very disappointed with NATO" and noted that it was possible the U.S. would not have attended the gathering [1]. The dispute centers on the lack of financial and military backing for the U.S. conflict with Iran. Trump said the alliance has done "absolutely nothing to help with Iran" [3].
The president emphasized the financial burden placed on the U.S., stating that the country is spending hundreds of billions of dollars [2] while other members remain absent in their support. He said, "We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars, and they’re not there for us" [2].
Reports on the president's specific intentions regarding the summit varied. Some accounts indicated he suggested the U.S. might skip the event entirely [1], while other reports said he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO altogether [4].
The events took place during a two-day summit [5] in the Turkish capital. Trump's comments come as the U.S. continues to lead the military effort against Iran—a conflict that has strained transatlantic relations due to its unpopularity among several European allies [4].
“"The alliance has done absolutely nothing to help with Iran."”
This confrontation signals a pivot toward transactional diplomacy within the NATO alliance. By tying the U.S. membership and attendance at summits to specific support for the war on Iran, the Trump administration is challenging the traditional collective defense framework of the alliance, potentially shifting NATO's focus from European security to U.S.-led Middle Eastern objectives.
