US President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of NATO, claiming his requests for European military assistance during the conflict with Iran were intentionally designed to test America's allies.
Speaking during a meeting with the Turkish president on Tuesday, Trump expressed deep disappointment over Europe's lack of response to the US war with Iran.
Testing Alliance Commitment
"We didn't need any help at all, and in a way, I was testing people, I was testing to see whether or not they'd be there," Trump said, as reported by BBC.
He added that he has long questioned whether NATO members would reciprocate the historical military assistance provided by the United States.
"I've long said that we helped them, but I'm not sure that they'd be there for us," the US president stated.
The dispute over collective defense commitments remains a central point of contention between the Trump administration and NATO leadership.
