Donald Trump will discuss the possibility of the United States withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in his prior meeting with Mark Rothe, the White House said. This issue has been raised as one of the main pillars of the negotiation between the two sides.
Trump, who is dissatisfied with the level of cooperation of European countries during the Iran war, had previously described NATO as a "paper tiger" and stressed that the US membership in the coalition needed a serious review. The statements have prompted widespread reactions among western allies.
According to an official statement from the White House, the possibility of the US withdrawal from NATO is at the center of the discussion. Caroline Levitt in Washington said the president will have a "very open and honest conversation" about the issue in her meeting with the NATO Secretary-General, and that decisions will be made on the basis of those reasons.
Levitt also reiterated Trump's criticism of the performance of US allies, saying that NATO has failed to meet Washington's expectations in recent weeks. According to him, the coalition faced serious challenges in its recent exam and feels a need to review the roles and commitments of its members.
Meanwhile, Trump had previously criticized the non-participation of European countries in securing security and reopening the Strait of Hormoz. Nevertheless, Friedrich Mertes said that Germany is ready to play an appropriate role in ensuring the freedom of shipping in the region, although the details of this cooperation have not yet been determined.
Trump and Marco Rubio had also previously emphasized that after the Iran war, the issue of continuing US membership in NATO will be considered seriously. The stance indicates the potential for major changes in Washington's foreign policy.
Meanwhile, the NATO spokesman has announced that the meeting between the Secretary-General of the organization and the US President, in addition to the NATO issue, will also include a review of the world security situation, including the Iran war and developments in Ukraine. These talks could have a significant impact on the future of transatlantic relations.
