Trump says NATO allies had a ‘bad moment’ for not helping in potential Iran war
During the NATO Summit held in Ankara, Turkey, President Donald Trump did not shy away from expressing his disappointment with Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom. According to Trump, these nations failed to provide immediate backing to the United States in the event of a potential conflict with Iran, labeling their reaction as a “bad moment.” Nonetheless, he later highlighted the “tremendous unification” among NATO members, underscoring the mutual love and respect that binds the alliance.
On Sunday, the newly appointed U.K. Defense Secretary praised President Donald Trump for shaking Europe from its slumber. He asserted that the continent would eventually express gratitude toward Trump for galvanizing NATO allies, prompting them to take a more active role in safeguarding their own security.
In an appearance on Sky News, Wes Streeting suggested that the United Kingdom is poised to adjust its transatlantic relations under the leadership of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. However, he made it clear that Britain remains steadfast in its refusal to support any U.S. offensive military actions against Iran.
Streeting conveyed his thoughts to Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips by emphasizing the importance of standing firm and not simply agreeing with everything. “The first thing you do is you don’t suck up,” he said, adding that his impression is that President Trump and his administration aren’t interested in flattery.
“President Trump is known for his straightforwardness,” Streeting remarked. “He is a person who speaks his mind and stands by his words.”
British Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting said that Europe will one day thank President Donald Trump for shaking Europe out of its strategic complacency and forcing NATO allies to shoulder more of their own defense. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
“I don’t know him, but I do trust the United States,” he added.
Streeting took charge of the U.K. Ministry of Defence on July 20, the same day Burnham became prime minister.
“I’ve not even been in the job a week. I’ve always been aware that the alliance between the U.S. and the U.K. is unlike any in the world, and of course, that’s historic, it’s cultural, it’s political,” Streeting said. “It’s driven by self-interest as well as mutual shared interests.”
During his first week in office, Streeting also had a call with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to discuss maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and broader NATO commitments.
“But just in my first week as defense secretary, I have had a unique insight into just how close and integral that relationship is when it comes to defense and security,” Streeting explained.
Streeting said he was “very keen and pleased” to meet with his American counterpart, War Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“And it’s one of the reasons why I was very keen and pleased in the first week to meet with my U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, where I was clear that we’ve not supported offensive action in Iran, and we won’t support offensive action in Iran,” he continued. “But there are plenty of things that we can and should do together when it comes to securing the Strait of Hormuz, in making sure that Iran doesn’t develop nuclear weapons, in terms of investing in our capability and NATO’s capability.”
Trump has long criticized European NATO members for failing to spend enough on defense, arguing they should shoulder a greater share of the alliance’s security burden.
“And one of the things I’d say about President Trump specifically… we don’t always like what he says. We don’t always like his methods,” Streeting said. (Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)
At July’s NATO summit in Turkey, Trump pressed allies to follow through on their commitments to increase defense spending.
“And one of the things I’d say about President Trump specifically: we don’t always like what he says, we don’t always like his methods,” Streeting said. “But I genuinely think when this period of history is written, Europe will thank President Trump for shaking us out of our complacency and forcing us to stand on our own two feet and end the period of overreliance on the United States for defense because what he said about Europe isn’t unique to President Trump, the MAGA movement or the Republican Party.”
“This has been a longstanding grain of U.S. frustration with Europe under Democratic and Republican presidents, and in the world we live in, it is right that we can act to secure ourselves,” he added.
Streeting also said the U.K. could “act with our allies here in Europe and, of course, work with the United States without being overly dependent to the extent that NATO and Europe has been.”
News Media has reached out to 10 Downing Street for further comment.