Trump disappointed with NATO ahead of what Rubio calls 'one of the most important summits' in history
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The July NATO summit in Ankara (Türkiye) will discuss US President Donald Trump’s disappointment with the Alliance, says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to The Guardian.
Rubio called the upcoming summit in Ankara “one of the most important leaders’ summits in the history of NATO,” as, according to him, leaders will have to respond to Trump’s “disappointment” with the Alliance’s “response to our operations in the Middle East.”
“That will have to be addressed, that won’t be solved or addressed today. That’s something for the leaders level to discuss,” he said.
The US Secretary of State noted Trump’s statement about sending 5,000 troops to Poland.
“The United States continues to have global commitments that it needs to meet in terms of our force deployment, and that constantly requires us to reexamine where we put troops. This is not a punitive thing, it’s just something that’s ongoing, and it was pre-existing,” Rubio added.
US may leave NATO
Allies in NATO generally do not take Trump’s threats literally, but according to Politico, countries are already preparing European backup alliances in case of a crisis in the Alliance.
Western media have written that the US administration compiled a list of NATO “disobedient” countries that the president allegedly wants to take revenge on.
Reuters reported that Washington is considering several options for punishments for countries that refused to support the US in the war against Iran.
Amid disputes with allies, Trump decided to reduce the US military contingent in Germany.
He has also suggested he may reduce the number of American troops in Spain and Italy.
