Washington, 9 April 2026 (dpa/MIA) – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said US President Donald Trump was "clearly disappointed" with several member states of the trans-Atlantic alliance during a White House meeting on Wednesday.

Speaking to broadcaster CNN, Rutte described the talks as an open discussion between "two good friends," but did not disclose whether a potential US withdrawal from NATO was discussed.

Trump, meanwhile, said on his Truth Social platform: "NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN."

The US president wrote that allies should remember Greenland, which he described as a "BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE."

Trump's repeated threats earlier this year to potentially annex Greenland, a Danish territory of strategic importance, have strained relations between Europe and the United States.

In recent days, comments by Trump had raised concerns about a possible US exit from NATO, amid his criticism of what he perceives as insufficient support from alliance partners for the Iran conflict.

Any withdrawal would require a two-thirds majority in the US Senate, which is considered highly unlikely.

Rutte also downplayed criticism from alliance partners of Trump's actions against Iran, saying there is no prevailing view among allies that the conflict is illegal under international law.

NATO has consistently taken the position that weakening Iran's nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile programme is crucial, Rutte said.

Photo: EPA