The Trump administration is considering a plan to punish some members of the NATO alliance that he believes were unhelpful to the US and Israel during the Iran war, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing administration officials.
The proposal would involve moving US troops out of NATO member countries deemed unhelpful to the Iran war effort and stationing them in countries that were more supportive of the US military campaign, the report added.
White House rebukes NATO over Iran as Trump meets alliance chief
Trump and NATO's Mark Rutte met at the White House on Wednesday, as the war with Iran has pushed US relations with other members of the military alliance to a crisis point.
The Republican president has threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance and denounced Washington's European allies in recent weeks for what he said was inadequate support for the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran.
Trump said on Tuesday the attacks would be paused after the two sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
"It's quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks when it's the American people who have been funding their defense," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a press briefing.
Leavitt said Trump would have a "very frank and candid conversation" with the NATO chief, who arrived at the White House in the afternoon.
Trump has called for countries that depend on oil from the Gulf region to break Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, but European countries are unlikely to join mine-clearing or other missions to free up navigation as long as hostilities continue, according to two European diplomats.
Trump calls NATO a 'paper tiger'
NATO, which includes European countries, the US and Canada, was formed in 1949 to counter the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly called NATO a "paper tiger" that is unhelpful in times of need. Asked by a Reuters reporter earlier this month about withdrawing from NATO, Trump said: "Wouldn't you if you were me?"
His focus on the Middle East has also further threatened to divert US weapons from Ukraine, whose defense is a major priority for most of NATO's European members. Trump's criticism of Ukraine, engagement with Russia, and threats to take over Greenland from NATO member Denmark have alarmed those allies.
"He has been disappointed by NATO and other allies' unwillingness to be helpful throughout Operation Epic Fury, even though his effort to destroy the threat posed by Iran is to their benefit," said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. "As he said, the United States will remember."