"I’ll be discussing my disgust with NATO,” Trump said of the planned speech, as cited by the Reuters news agency.
Asked by Reuters whether he was thinking about pulling out of the alliance, he replied: "Oh, absolutely, without question. Wouldn’t you do that if you were me?"
His remarks came hours after his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to reaffirm the US commitment to NATO’s collective defence clause, which lies at the core of the alliance, Reuters reported.
In an interview published earlier on Wednesday by Britain’s Telegraph newspaper, Trump said the United States was strongly considering leaving NATO after allies failed to support US military action against Iran.
He described the alliance as a “paper tiger” and said withdrawal was “beyond reconsideration.”
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said NATO could not function without the United States, but added that Washington also depends on the alliance.
“There is no NATO without the United States, but there is also no American power without NATO,” he said.
Experts have long warned that suggestions the United States might not honour its NATO commitments could embolden Russia to test the alliance, including its Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO, accusing allies of failing to spend enough on defence and share the burden.
Earlier this month, he rebuked allies for not supporting US-Israeli military action against Iran, calling them "cowards" in a social media post.
“COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” he wrote.
He also criticised allies for not joining efforts to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, which Iran has blocked.
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has roiled global markets, killed thousands and displaced millions, according to Reuters.
In earlier remarks, Trump said many NATO allies had told Washington they did not want to get involved, calling their stance a “very foolish mistake.”
In comments to the Financial Times in mid-March, Trump warned NATO could face a "very bad future" if allies do not respond to his call to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
(gs)
Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP