NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is set to meet with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to address tensions between the U.S. and the military alliance over the Iran conflict. The meeting follows Trump's recent threats to leave NATO after member countries declined to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route Iran had shut down, causing global gas prices to surge.
The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire late Tuesday, which includes the reopening of the strait. The ceasefire came after Trump threatened to strike Iran's power plants and bridges, stating that 'a whole civilization will die tonight.' The details of the strait's reopening remain unclear and are expected to be a key topic in the meeting with Rutte.
The White House initially planned the meeting to be behind closed doors, though past Trump administration meetings have sometimes been opened to the press at the last minute.
Congress passed a law in 2023 requiring congressional approval for any U.S. withdrawal from NATO. Trump, a longtime critic of the alliance, had previously claimed he could leave NATO unilaterally. The alliance, founded in 1949 to counter Soviet threats, is based on a mutual defense agreement where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The only time this clause was invoked was in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.
Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members for not contributing enough to collective security efforts. During a recent press conference, he recalled being rebuffed by Denmark over Greenland and by European nations opposing Operation Epic Fury against Iran. He described NATO as a 'paper tiger' and stated that U.S. membership is 'beyond reconsideration,' though he has not clarified this statement.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto expressed doubt that Trump could unilaterally withdraw from NATO, noting that Congress would need to approve such a move. However, he cautioned that the U.S. could decide to withdraw troops from Europe, which would weaken NATO's presence.
Rutte, who has cultivated a warm relationship with Trump, has emphasized that NATO members may have differing views but share a common goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear and missile capabilities. He praised the U.S. for degrading Iran's military capabilities.