Former US President Donald Trump has warned that NATO faces a "very bad future" if member states fail to support the United States in a potential conflict with Iran. The comments were made in an interview with the Financial Times, reflecting his long-standing criticism of the alliance's burden-sharing.
Trump stated that if a NATO ally was attacked by Iran, the US would not come to its defense unless that country had "fulfilled its obligations" to Washington. This reiterates his transactional view of the alliance, a theme from his 2016-2020 presidency.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between the West and Iran over its nuclear program and regional activities. Current US and NATO policy remains committed to collective defense under Article 5, but Trump's statements highlight potential future policy shifts should he return to office.
NATO officials have consistently affirmed the principle of solidarity, with all decisions made by consensus among its 32 member states. The alliance has not publicly commented on Trump's latest interview.
