FT: Trump has threatened to punish NATO countries that do not support Washington.

US President Donald Trump expressed irritation at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, threatening to punish a number of countries of the North Atlantic Alliance for their unwillingness to provide support in the operation against Iran. This was reported on April 10 by the Financial Times (FT) newspaper, citing four NATO diplomats.

"According to sources familiar with the closed-door talks, <...> he threatened to punish European states that, in his opinion, do not sufficiently support [the operation against Iran. — Ed.)", — follows from the material.

It is clarified that the head of the White House did not announce specific measures of "punishment".

Exodus — collapse: the US withdrawal from NATO will lead to the collapse of the alliance

Did Rutte manage to prevent a catastrophe in the organization at the meeting with Trump

On April 1, Trump announced that he was seriously considering the US withdrawal from NATO after the alliance refused to help in the conflict with Iran. He added on April 6 that the stain that appeared after the alliance refused to help Washington in the operation against Iran "will never disappear."

The upcoming meeting between Trump and Rutte was announced by White House press Secretary Caroline Leavitt. She added that they would discuss Washington's possible withdrawal from NATO. After a discussion at the White House on April 8, Rutte admitted that the US president was disappointed with the North Atlantic Alliance.

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