U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) opened the door to the U.S. withdrawing from NATO, expressing his frustration with member nations hesitant to support the United States in an Iran war and with the alliance itself.

When asked if he was considering withdrawing from NATO, he replied, "Of course, I think there's no question about it," adding, "I have never been so sure about NATO. I always knew NATO was a paper tiger, and Putin knows it too."

Several NATO members refused to allow the U.S. to use their bases for the Iran war. Spain outright blocked the use of its bases, while Italy blocked U.S. bombers from landing at a Sicilian air base. Most NATO members, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, refused to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Article 13 of the NATO treaty stipulates that a member nation can withdraw one year after notifying the U.S. government of its intent to leave. However, the U.S. Congress passed legislation in 2023 to prevent the president from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO. At the time, lawmakers expressed concern that President Trump might attempt to withdraw from NATO if re-elected.

President Trump's remarks come in the context of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth telling reporters this week that "a lot was revealed about the solidarity of the alliance."

He added, "When we carry out such large-scale operations, it shows the world a lot about what our allies are willing to do for us. But when we ask for additional support, we are met with questions, obstruction, or hesitation."

Senator Marco Rubio echoed similar sentiments this week on Fox News, asking, "Why are we in NATO?"

He added, "We have to ask ourselves that question. Why are we pouring trillions of dollars into this and maintaining troops in this region, only to find out that when we need those bases, we can't use them?"

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a defense alliance formed after World War II to maintain the security of the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Founded in 1949, the alliance initially comprised 12 countries but has since expanded to 32 member nations.

According to CBS News, the president has indicated in recent weeks that he believes he can withdraw the U.S. from NATO, telling reporters last month, "Congress is not needed to make that decision. I can make that decision alone."

Democratic Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia and Rubio were the lead sponsors of this provision, which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 and signed into law by President Joe Biden.

The law states that the president "may not suspend, terminate, renounce, or withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty, done at Washington on April 4, 1949, unless such action is taken with the advice and consent of the Senate by a two-thirds vote of Senators present and voting, or by an Act of Congress."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated in a post on X on Wednesday that "President Trump will not get my vote to abandon our allies and withdraw from NATO simply because they do not go along with his reckless wars."

However, some experts argue that the president could circumvent the law by asserting executive authority, which would almost certainly lead to legal challenges.

Meanwhile, even without an official withdrawal announcement, some point out that the alliance itself could be weakened by the president's increasingly hostile stance towards alliances.

The U.S. has already pressured European countries to increase their defense spending and has reduced its participation in military exercises. Concerns are also being raised that the U.S. may not fulfill its obligations under Article 5 of the treaty or continue to provide nuclear deterrence to member states.

Even if the president cannot unilaterally withdraw from NATO without Senate consent, the failure to uphold obligations under Article 5 would essentially mean the collapse of the alliance.

U.S. NNP=Hong Seong-gu, Chief Reporter / Special Dispatch NNP info@newsandpost.com