Trump: NATO is a 'paper tiger', I want Greenland

(Patria) - President Donald Trump sharply criticized NATO allies who did not support the United States in the war against Iran and reiterated his desire to annex Greenland, AFP reported.

Trump's statements came ahead of NATO chief Mark Rutte's visit planned for this week.

"You see, we went into NATO," Trump said. "I didn't ask very strongly, I just said, 'Hey, if you want to help, that's great.'"

"'No, no, no, we are not going to help,'" Trump said he was told, but did not say who he was talking to.

Trump continued, saying that NATO members "actually made an effort not to help".
The alliance, Trump said, is a "paper tiger" that Russian President Vladimir "Putin is not afraid of".

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, whom Trump called a "great person", is expected to visit Washington this week.

On Wednesday, he will meet with Trump, US Secretary of State Marc Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Alliance announced on Friday.

These statements mark the latest conflict between Trump and the alliance.

Trump has not hidden his desire to annex Greenland, which is controlled by Denmark, a NATO ally, which has met with strong resistance from the alliance.

Speaking about his dissatisfaction with NATO, Trump said: "It all started with, if you want to know the truth, Greenland."

"We want Greenland," Trump said. "They don't want to give it to us. And I said, 'Goodbye, goodbye.'"

Trump also criticized other traditional allies outside of NATO, including South Korea, Australia, and Japan, for not helping in the war with Iran.

Trump praised Persian Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, for their support during the war.