Washington, April 2 (NationPress) President Donald Trump has openly criticized NATO, raising doubts about its significance in contemporary conflicts, and hinted that the alliance may not be prepared to back the United States in a significant war.

During a White House Easter luncheon on Wednesday, Trump stated that recent military actions revealed serious deficiencies within the transatlantic alliance. “We’ve had some very poor allies in NATO,” he remarked, indicating that the coalition had failed to respond adequately when called upon.

He characterized NATO as ineffective in genuine conflict scenarios. “They’re a paper tiger,” Trump asserted, emphasizing that the US did not require the alliance’s assistance during its ongoing operations.

Trump mentioned he had contacted various NATO member states seeking their support but received minimal commitment. “Many said they would be present after the war is over,” he claimed, condemning what he perceived as delayed and merely symbolic support.

The President expressed that this response reinforced his doubts regarding NATO’s dependability. “NATO won’t be there if we ever face a major conflict,” he warned, suggesting that the alliance might falter during a significant global crisis.

Additionally, Trump pointed out what he viewed as an imbalance in burden-sharing. He stated that the US has invested “trillions of dollars into NATO” while receiving scant support when it was needed most.

In his comments, as shown in a video uploaded by the White House to its YouTube channel, Trump highlighted specific allies, including France and the UK, implying that they were reluctant or slow to offer help. The video was subsequently removed from YouTube by the White House.

Trump recounted discussions with leaders where requests for immediate military assistance were either declined or postponed.

His remarks reflect a broader skepticism toward alliances and multilateral security arrangements. Trump pointed out that the US military is capable of operating independently and has already shown this capability. “We didn’t need them,” he mentioned, referring to NATO involvement.

He added that US forces have successfully executed operations without allied support. “We were blasting the hell out of them… and the last thing I needed was NATO getting in our way,” Trump stated.

Trump's comments indicate a pivot towards a more unilateral approach to security, suggesting that the US should not rely on alliances in critical moments and should act based solely on its strategic interests.