Britain and other Nato allies “turned their backs” on the American people during the Iran war, according to the White House.
The criticism came ahead of a meeting in Washington between Donald Trump and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, where they were due to have a “very frank and candid conversation” about the military alliance.
Rutte was expected to try to smooth over Trump’s anger with Nato over the conflict in the Middle East, while the president was expected to again raise the possibility of the US quitting the long-standing security organisation he has previously branded a “paper tiger”.
Trump had suggested that the US may consider leaving the alliance after Nato member countries ignored his call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway, as Iran effectively shut it and sent fuel prices soaring.
Following a ceasefire in war, a number of Nato allies, including the UK, said they would “contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was dismissive of the offer when asked at a news conference.
Sharing a quote from Trump on Nato in response, she said: “They were tested and they failed.”
She added: “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 defence.”
When asked if Trump is still considering leaving Nato, Leavitt said: “It’s something the president has discussed, and I think it’s something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with secretary-general Rutte and perhaps you’ll hear directly from the president following that meeting later.”
Trump has been a longtime critic of Nato, which was founded in 1949 to counter the Cold War threat posed to European security by the Soviet Union.
The 32 Nato member countries have a mutual defense agreement in which an attack on one is considered an attack on them all, which has only been activated in 2001 to support the US following the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington.
Trump has already shaken the alliance since his return to power by reducing US military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia, and threatening to seize Greenland from ally Denmark.
Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, has had a warm relationship with Trump in the past.
He called calling US efforts to degrade Tehran's military capability something to "applaud," and Trump in turn described the secretary-general as "a wonderful guy", even while claiming that fellow Nato countries had "gone out of their way not to help" in the Middle East.
The refusal by the UK to be drawn into the offensive against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury by the US, and restrict the use of its bases by American forces has put a severe strain on relations between Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump.
Starmer travelled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to support the ceasefire, as the UK works on developing a post-conflict security plan for the strait.
The US president has also previously complained about the contributions paid in by fellow Nato members, arguing America has been carrying other countries financially.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Rutte earlier on Wednesday, where the pair discussed the war with Iran among other matters.
Following the talks, US State Department principal deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott said: “The two leaders discussed Operation Epic Fury, ongoing US-led efforts to bring a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war, and increasing co-ordination and burden shifting with Nato allies.”
