Trump lashes out at European allies: 'I just want their loyalty'

US President Donald Trump openly criticized European NATO allies on Wednesday, doing so with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sitting across from him at the White House.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Rutte in Washington, Trump singled out Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain, repeating his claim that those countries had failed to help during the Middle East crisis.

"We were disappointed," Trump said. "We didn't need any help on this one," he added, referring to the Middle East situation. He then said the United States had "literally taken them down in the first week," referring to Iran, before adding: "But it would have been nice if they said, 'We want to help too.'"

Rutte sought to soothe Trump, saying he "fully agreed that there was reason to be disappointed."

He also offered a partial defense, saying he did not disagree with Trump "greatly on this" but did so "a little bit."

Citing Germany as an example, Rutte said European allies had "fulfilled their bilateral commitments to the United States from day one of the war," which he said allowed 4,000 to 5,000 US aircraft to fly sorties from European bases.

"Without Europe serving as a platform for American power projection, it would have been difficult to carry out the Iran operation," he said.

Trump was unmoved, pressing on against European nations. "I just want their loyalty," he said. "We don't need their money. We don't need anything else."

Trump said the United States was "very loyal to them" and always fought on their behalf, adding that all America expected in return was "a little nudge and a little kiss." He then vented: "But they say, 'No, we can't do that.'"

Trump also took aim at European defense spending, saying allies had agreed six months ago to spend 5 percent of their GDP on defense. "But most of them still aren't spending it properly," he said.

Rutte pushed back, saying the alliance had agreed to give member states several years to meet the target. "Germany is doubling its defense spending between 2021 and 2029," he said, adding that the Netherlands, Poland and Denmark were on similar trajectories.

Rutte traveled to Washington to meet Trump and discuss security issues including the situation in the Middle East and transatlantic cooperation.

Trump has long pressed European allies to increase defense spending, accusing them of free-riding on American security guarantees. The Middle East crisis appears to have deepened his frustration. When some European countries refused to allow US military assets to use their bases for operations against Iran and declined to send forces to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump raised the possibility of withdrawing from NATO.

Tensions worsened further after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly criticized the US approach to the war against Iran, prompting Trump to reduce the number of American troops stationed in Germany.

Against that backdrop, Rutte has focused on toning down the rhetoric.

At a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 17, Rutte said a reduction in US troop levels in Europe should not be read as a withdrawal from the continent.

"Some see the reduction of US forces in Europe as a distancing from allies, but that does not reflect reality," he said.

At Wednesday's press conference, Rutte also welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, saying the deal Trump had secured "created an opportunity to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons."

"The resumption of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be enormous progress," he said, adding that many NATO allies were ready to contribute through a France- and UK-led initiative to reopen the waterway.