NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will visit Washington next week for what a spokesperson for the military alliance called a "long-planned visit" that comes after President Donald Trump blasted European allies over differences on the Iran war.
"I can confirm that the Secretary General will be in DC next week for a long-planned visit," NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said. A White House official also confirmed the visit.
No further details of the trip were immediately available.
Trump said he was considering pulling the U.S. out of the Western military alliance due to the refusal of European members to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
In remarks on Wednesday to allies gathered for an Easter lunch at the White House, Trump criticised France and the United Kingdom, among other U.S. allies, as a “paper tiger."
NATO, which includes European countries, the U.S. and Canada, was formed in 1949 with the aim of countering the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.
“We've had some very bad allies in NATO,” Trump said. "Hopefully, we're never going to need them. I don't think we will need them."
NATO, which includes European countries, the United States and Canada, was formed in 1949 with the aim of countering the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.
Trump told Reuters on Wednesday (1 April) that he would state in an address to the nation later in the day that he was "absolutely" considering withdrawing the U.S. from the NATO alliance.
"I'll be discussing my disgust with NATO," he said of the speech. Asked if he was thinking about pulling out of NATO, he said, "Oh, absolutely without question. Wouldn't you do that if you were me?"
Trump's remarks reflect his ongoing frustration with NATO and came just hours after his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to NATO's collective defence, a concept that lies at the heart of the alliance.
Experts say it is not clear whether Trump could act unilaterally to leave the 77-year-old coalition, even though he frequently makes major decisions without congressional approval, some of which are held up by U.S. courts.
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