US President Donald Trump publicly questioned the reliability of Nato during the Iran conflict, saying the military confrontation became a test of whether America’s allies would stand by Washington in a crisis. Admitting that he was “very disappointed” with the alliance, Trump claimed some Nato members refused to support key US military objectives, deepening an already strained relationship with several European leaders.The remarks came ahead of the Nato leaders’ summit in Ankara, where Trump met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking to reporters, the US President said the Iran conflict confirmed his long-held doubts about whether Nato allies would back the United States when it needed them most.For years, Trump has argued that the US carries a disproportionate share of Nato’s security burden while European allies rely heavily on American military guarantees. The Iran conflict appears to have reinforced those concerns after some allied countries reportedly declined to allow American forces to use their air bases for strikes on Iran and refused to contribute military assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz.Trump said he had deliberately observed how allies reacted during the crisis.“I was very disappointed with Nato,” Trump stated. “We didn’t need any help at all, and in a way, I was testing people,” he explained. “I was testing to see whether or not they’d be there because I’ve long said that we helped them, but I’m not sure that they’d be there for us.”Among the leaders singled out by Trump was Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Although the two have often shared a cordial relationship, Trump suggested Italy’s refusal to support Washington’s approach towards the Strait of Hormuz had strained ties between them.“She refused to get involved with the Hormuz Strait, or you could also say just Iran,” Trump stated. “So it soured my relationship with her a little bit. But I like her. I think she’s a nice person. But I think she made a mistake.”Trump argued that Italy’s dependence on energy imports from the Gulf made its reluctance particularly surprising, while insisting the United States was not driven by energy needs.“We have a lot of oil. The United States has more oil than anybody. And when you add Venezuela to it, it’s like we have far more oil than anybody. We don’t need the straits,” Trump remarked.“We do this because we think it’s an important thing to do. But she just wasn’t there for us. And I wasn’t happy about that,” he added.The US President has repeatedly criticised several European leaders since the Iran conflict began. He recently mocked Meloni on social media and also took aim at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying the British leader’s cautious approach to the crisis showed he was “no Churchill”. Trump has also remained unconvinced despite efforts by Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte to reassure him over the alliance’s growing defence commitments.In contrast, Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing Turkey as a constructive partner during the crisis. He said Ankara had helped diplomatic efforts to contain tensions and suggested Erdogan shared Washington’s objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.“They know Iran very well, and they know the problems with Iran,” Trump remarked regarding Turkish officials. “They’ve been very instrumental, along with a couple of other countries, in helping.”“With respect to our relationship, including trying to end the war with Iran, or whatever you call it, it’s not even a war. It’s a military operation. It’s a denuclearization,” the US President asserted.Trump also noted that Turkey possessed significant military capabilities but had chosen not to enter the conflict directly.“He could have gotten into the fight,” Trump said, characterising Turkey as “a very powerful military nation.”Regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump expressed confidence that Erdogan remained aligned with Washington’s position.“I don’t think he wants to see them have a nuclear weapon either,” Trump stated. “I’m pretty sure of that. In fact, I’m totally sure of that.”Trump’s remarks underscored growing tensions within the Western alliance as Nato leaders gathered to discuss the fallout of the Iran conflict, collective security and burden-sharing. His comments also highlighted the widening gap between Washington and some of its traditional allies over how far Nato should support American military operations beyond the alliance’s core territory.
