NATO, which includes European countries, theUnited StatesandCanada, was formed in 1949 with the aim of countering the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.

Trumptold Reuterson Wednesday that he would state in an address to the nation later in the day that he was "absolutely" considering withdrawing the US from theNATOalliance.

"I'll be discussing my disgust withNATO," he said of the speech. Asked if he was thinking about pulling out ofNATO, he said: "Oh, absolutely without question. Wouldn't you do that if you were me?"

Trump's remarksreflect his ongoing frustration withNATOand came just hours after his Defence SecretaryPete Hegsethdeclined to reaffirm the US commitment toNATO'scollective defense, a concept that lies at the heart of the alliance.

Experts say it isnot clearwhetherTrumpcould act unilaterally to leave the 77-year-old coalition, even though he frequently makes major decisions without congressional approval, some of which are held up by US courts.

Could NATO be collateral damage from Trump's Iran war?

'Disgust' with NATO

Experts have warned thatTrump's repeated remarks suggesting that the United States might not honor itsNATOcommitments could encourageRussiato testNATOmembers' readiness to enforce the alliance's Article 5, which states an armed attack against one member state is an attack on all.

Francewas among the first EuropeanNATOmembers to react to similar comments byTrumpto Britain'sTelegraphpublished earlier in the day, in whichTrumpcalledNATOa "paper tiger" and said he was considering exiting the alliance after allies failed to back US military action againstIran.

"Let me recall whatNATOis," French junior army minister Alice Rufo said, though without directly addressingTrump's threat to leaveNATO.

"It is a military alliance concerned with the security of territories in the Euro-Atlantic area. It is not intended to carry out an operation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is not in accordance with international law."

Finnish PresidentAlexander StubbtoldTrumpin a phone call that a "more EuropeanNATO" was taking shape and thatEuropewas shouldering more responsibility, his office said.

But Julianne Smith, who was former President Joe Biden's ambassador toNATO, said Europe was already spending huge sums of money on its own defense, but it would "probably be the better part of a decade before they can really take on all of the roles and responsibilities that the U.S. is currently providing to the alliance."

"There are limits because they cannot just snap their fingers and secure capabilities like air-to-air refueling or lift or intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance overnight,"saidSmith, now a nonresident fellow with theChicago Council on Global Affairs.

Could Middle East war bring region closer to an 'Arab NATO'?

Call for calm

InPoland, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz called for calm.

"I hope that amid the emotions surrounding the President of the United States today, a moment of calm will come," he said. "And why? Because there is noNATOwithout the United States, and it is in our interest that this calm comes. But there is also no American power withoutNATO."

NATOhad no immediate comment.

A German government spokesperson, asked aboutTrump's comment during a government press conference,saidGermanyremained committed toNATO. "This isn't the first time he's done this, and since it's a recurring phenomenon, you can probably judge the consequences for yourself,"they said.

British Prime MinisterKeir Starmersaid he would act in his country's interest, whatever the "noise". The instability caused by the Iran war meantBritain should pivotto focus on closer economic and defence ties with Europe, he said.

Canadian, German and Norway leaders hold Arctic security talks

Collective defence?

The Iran war has exacerbated tensions between the US and Europe that have been mounting since the start ofTrump's second term in office over everything from trade toUkraineand his demands for ownership ofGreenland, an autonomous territory ofNATOallyDenmark.

Trumpthreatened to stop supplying weapons that Europe has been buying for Ukraine unless European allies joined a "coalition of the willing" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, theFinancial Timesnewspaper reported on Wednesday.

Asked on Tuesday if the United States was still committed toNATO's collective defence, Hegseth said: "As far asNATOis concerned, that's a decision that will be left to the president. But I'll just say a lot has been laid bare."

"You don't have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them," Hegseth said.

France has refused to allowIsraelto use its airspace to resupply a flight carrying American weapons being used in the war against Iran, andItalydenied permission for US military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before heading to theMiddle East, sources told Reuters. Both France and Italy said it was standard policy and nothing had changed.

Spain, however, said publicly it had fully closed its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran.

Trumphas also repeatedly blasted Britain for not joining the United States when it launched the war.

(Reuters)

Originally published on RFI