Trump Criticizes NATO, Praises Gulf Allies on Iran Conflict

President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies for their lack of support in the ongoing conflict with Iran, while praising Gulf nations for their backing. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Miami on Friday, Trump expressed disappointment that NATO countries did not assist the U.S. in its efforts against Iran. He singled out leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, stating that NATO has historically failed to reciprocate U.S. support. 'We’re very disappointed, by the way, with NATO—they didn’t come to our aid,' Trump said. He also referred to NATO as a 'paper tiger,' suggesting that the alliance would not support the U.S. in a major conflict. In contrast, Trump commended Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait for their support in the conflict. 'Unlike NATO, Saudi Arabia fought, Qatar fought, UAE fought, Bahrain fought, and Kuwait fought,' he said. The president also mentioned an incident where Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly shot down three U.S. aircraft, noting that the missiles used were among the finest available. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical point of contention, with Trump jokingly referring to it as the 'Strait of Trump' before correcting himself. The conflict has escalated further as Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, launched a missile attack on Israel, raising concerns about potential disruptions to global shipping.