HIGH3 sources
Trump says US strongly considering NATO exit, Telegraph reports
Middle East Eye2 days ago
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HIGHThreat Assessment
The article reports that US President Donald Trump told the Daily Telegraph he is strongly considering withdrawing the United States from NATO after allies did not back US military action against Iran. Although no formal policy change or withdrawal has occurred, the public threat to exit the alliance is a significant political development that could undermine NATO cohesion and deterrence at a sensitive moment for Eastern European and Middle Eastern security.
Summary
Trump says US strongly considering NATO exit, Telegraph reports
US President Donald Trump said he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to back US military action against Iran, according to an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph.
Trump described the alliance as a "paper tiger" and said removing the United States from the defence pact was now "beyond reconsideration," the newspaper reported. He said he had long held doubts about NATO's credibility.
"Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration," Trump told the newspaper when asked about whether he would reconsider US membership of the alliance after the conflict.
"I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way."
US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on 26 March 2026 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP)
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Countries & Regions
United StatesDonald TrumpNATORussiaVladimir PutinUnited Kingdom (Daily Telegraph)IranMiddle East Eye
Threat Indicators
military action
nuclear threat
cyber warfare
terrorism
Key Phrases
"A US threat to leave NATO directly weakens collective deterrence and could embolden adversaries (notably Russia) if perceived as credible.""Timing amplifies risk: Russia is conducting nuclear posturing in Belarus and NATO has reported air-defense shortages, increasing vulnerability to opportunistic escalation.""Statement was made in the context of a dispute over allied support for US actions against Iran—ties between US global commitments and alliance cohesion are being publicly questioned.""Even if rhetorical, sustained US ambivalence toward NATO could trigger strategic realignments by allies, accelerate European defense initiatives, or create gaps in interoperability and intelligence-sharing (compounded by ongoing concerns about leaks/integrity).""No concrete withdrawal or policy implementation is reported — immediate operational impact is limited, but strategic implications are high if rhetoric becomes policy."
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Middle East EyePrimary
Also reported by:
Jerusalem PostReuters World News