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Trump Says Frustrated with Italy, Spain Over Iran
(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump escalated his war of words with European NATO allies on Friday, expressing open frustration with Italy and Spain over their refusal to back his military campaign against Iran, while signaling potential consequences for the transatlantic alliance.
"I'm not happy with Italy, and I'm not happy with Spain. They feel it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Anybody that feels it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon is not very smart, and it'll be a terrible thing in the future if they're ever allowed to have a nuclear weapon," Trump said as he departed the White House.
The remarks follow Trump's statement Thursday that he "probably will" withdraw US troops from both countries. Reiterating that position, he told reporters in the Oval Office: "I probably will. Why shouldn't I? You know, look, why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible."
Trump broadened his grievance to encompass NATO more widely, questioning the alliance's reciprocity. "It's NATO. It's not even the fact that they're bad. It's one thing if they said nicely, or if they said: 'Okay, we'll help, but the help is a little slow.' But the level, and we help them with Ukraine. You know, they made a mess out of Ukraine, a total mess, and we helped them with Ukraine," he said.
On Germany, Trump confirmed Wednesday that his administration is "studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period," without elaborating further.
The remarks were directed in part at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who on Monday accused Washington of lacking an "exit strategy" in Iran and claimed the US is being "humiliated" during ongoing negotiations. Trump responded sharply on Tuesday, saying Merz "doesn't know what he's talking about" and accusing him of tolerating a nuclear-armed Iran.
"I am doing something with Iran right now that other nations or presidents should have done long ago," Trump said. "No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both economically and otherwise."
"I'm not happy with Italy, and I'm not happy with Spain. They feel it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Anybody that feels it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon is not very smart, and it'll be a terrible thing in the future if they're ever allowed to have a nuclear weapon," Trump said as he departed the White House.
The remarks follow Trump's statement Thursday that he "probably will" withdraw US troops from both countries. Reiterating that position, he told reporters in the Oval Office: "I probably will. Why shouldn't I? You know, look, why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible."
Trump broadened his grievance to encompass NATO more widely, questioning the alliance's reciprocity. "It's NATO. It's not even the fact that they're bad. It's one thing if they said nicely, or if they said: 'Okay, we'll help, but the help is a little slow.' But the level, and we help them with Ukraine. You know, they made a mess out of Ukraine, a total mess, and we helped them with Ukraine," he said.
On Germany, Trump confirmed Wednesday that his administration is "studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period," without elaborating further.
The remarks were directed in part at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who on Monday accused Washington of lacking an "exit strategy" in Iran and claimed the US is being "humiliated" during ongoing negotiations. Trump responded sharply on Tuesday, saying Merz "doesn't know what he's talking about" and accusing him of tolerating a nuclear-armed Iran.
"I am doing something with Iran right now that other nations or presidents should have done long ago," Trump said. "No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both economically and otherwise."
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