Trump Claims Nato ‘Was Not There For US’ In New Tirade

Donald Trump has repeated his false claim that Nato was “not there” for America in a new attack on the country’s allies.

In a social media post shared less than one week before a highly-anticipated Nato summit in Ankara, the US president claimed it was “ridiculous” for America to continue with its “one-sided” relationship with the western military alliance.

“Ridiculous for the U.S.A. to continue along this one sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They were not there for us!!! President DJT,” he wrote on Truth Social.

He attached a graphic which suggested the US spent $999 billion on Nato, while the UK spent $90.5bn, France £66.5bn, Italy $48.8bn and Poland $44.3bn.

He did not say where the graphic came from or explain how those numbers matched up to the Nato target of spending at least 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2035.

Trump has repeatedly criticised Nato allies for not supporting the US, particularly with his offensive in Iran earlier this year.

Multiple countries refused to let American troops use their military bases to launch strikes on Tehran.

He also overlooks how the defence alliance’s mutual defence clause has only ever been invoked once – in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks against the US.

Trump claimed back in January that Nato ought to give him Greenland having “never” been there fore the US.

When Nato chief Mark Rutte pointed out that member states flocked to support the US in Afghanistan after 9/11, Trump falsely claimed the coalition troops “stayed a little back, little off the frontlines” in the war.

Keir Starmer’s spokesperson then slapped the president down, telling reporters: “The president was wrong to diminish the role of Nato troops, including British forces, in Afghanistan.

“Following the 9/11 attacks on the US, Article 5 of the Nato treaty was invoked for the first time and British forces served alongside American and other allied troops in sustained combat operations – 457 British service personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan and many more were wounded.

“Many hundreds suffered life-changing injuries from their service, alongside the US and our allies in Afghanistan.

“Their sacrifice and that of other Nato forces was made in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on our ally.

“We are incredibly proud of our armed forces and their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Trump has also been pressuring Nato to increase its defence spending so that it is less reliant on the US.

Member states agreed to boost defence-related spending last year – including civil preparedness and resilience – to 5% of GDP by 2035.

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