Disappointment with NATO, refusal to negotiate with Iran: Trump’s key statements

Lead

US President Donald Trump has delivered a series of sharp criticisms of NATO allies, accusing them of not supporting the US military campaign against Iran and describing the transatlantic relationship as "one-sided." He also declared that the ceasefire with Iran is no longer in effect and ruled out negotiations with Tehran's leadership. The statements came in the run-up to and during a NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump reportedly softened his tone on some issues.

Coverage comparison

Reports from Al Jazeera, The Guardian, and TASS — English highlight consistent themes in Trump's remarks: disappointment with European allies, frustration over NATO spending, and a hardline stance toward Iran. However, the outlets differ in their emphasis and the specific details they chose to highlight.

Al Jazeera's coverage focuses on Trump's criticism of European allies during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with Trump saying, "I was disappointed with Italy. I was disappointed with the UK, Germany, and France. We were disappointed with most of them. Spain is a horror show." The outlet also reported Rutte's rebuttal, in which he revealed that European allies had made their bases available to US forces during the conflict, with "4-5,000 US planes taking off from bases in Europe in the six weeks this war took place." Al Jazeera also quoted Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, who called out NATO's "active complicity" in the US-Israel war on Iran.

The Guardian — World emphasizes Trump's broader critique of NATO, quoting his Truth Social post in which he called the relationship "ridiculous" and "not reciprocal." The outlet also reported that NATO leaders had agreed to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 under pressure from Trump. The Guardian quoted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Trump is disappointed that NATO allies refused to become more actively involved in attacking Iran, and that the rift would be a key topic at the Ankara summit.

TASS — English provided detailed accounts of Trump's statements during his meeting with Rutte in Ankara, including his declaration that the ceasefire with Iran is "over" and his insult toward Iran's leadership, which he called "scum." TASS also reported Trump's criticism of Spain as a "terrible partner" and his remarks on Greenland, saying, "Greenland is very important for the US, but it's not important for Denmark." A separate TASS report noted that during the Ankara meeting, Trump did not repeat his criticism of Spain or mention the ceasefire or Greenland, citing a Reuters report.

Key claims

• Trump said it is "ridiculous" for the US to continue its "one-sided" relationship with NATO, as reported by The Guardian. He wrote on Truth Social that "They were not there for us!!!" and that the relationship "is not reciprocal."
• Trump expressed disappointment with several European allies, including the UK, Italy, Germany, France, and Spain, for not providing assistance in the war against Iran. This was reported by Al Jazeera, TASS, and The Guardian, with Trump calling Spain a "horror show" and a "terrible partner."
• Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran is no longer in effect, saying, "For me, I think it's over." He also stated he has no intention of negotiating with Iran, referring to the country's leadership as "scum." This was reported by TASS.
• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte revealed that European allies had made their bases available to the US military during the war on Iran, a claim reported by Al Jazeera. Rutte acknowledged "reason for disappointment" but argued that the cases were "isolated."
• Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, called out NATO's "active complicity" in the US-Israel war on Iran, as reported by Al Jazeera.
• The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said Trump is disappointed that NATO allies refused to become more actively involved in attacking Iran, according to The Guardian. Rubio added that the issue would be addressed at the Ankara summit.
• NATO leaders had agreed to boost defense-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a statistical claim reported by The Guardian.
• Trump did not mention ending the ceasefire with Iran or disagreements over Greenland or Spain during a meeting of NATO leaders in Ankara, as reported by TASS, citing Reuters.

Perspectives

US Administration: President Trump expressed disappointment with NATO allies for not providing assistance in the war against Iran, criticized the alliance as "one-sided," and declared the ceasefire with Iran over, ruling out negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed these concerns, stating that the president's disappointment is "well documented" and that the rift must be addressed.

NATO: Secretary General Mark Rutte pushed back against Trump's characterization, revealing that European allies had made their bases available to US forces during the war. He acknowledged "reason for disappointment" but framed the lack of participation as "isolated cases," emphasizing the broader support provided.

Iran: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused NATO of "active complicity" in the US-Israel war on Iran, reflecting Tehran's view that the alliance was directly involved in the military campaign.