NATO chief to visit Washington next week as Trump threatens exit from alliance

Reuters (April 2) - NATO ​Secretary-General Mark Rutte will visit Washington next ‌week for what a spokesperson for the military alliance called a "long-planned visit" that comes after President Donald Trump blasted European ​allies over differences on the Iran war.

"I can ​confirm that the Secretary General will be in ⁠DC next week for a long-planned visit," NATO ​spokesperson Allison Hart said. A White House official also ​confirmed the visit.

Trump said he was considering pulling the U.S. out of the ​Western military alliance due to the refusal of ​European members to send ships to unblock the Strait of ‌Hormuz.

In ⁠remarks on Wednesday to allies gathered for an Easter lunch at the White House, Trump criticized France and the United Kingdom, among other U.S. allies, ​as a “paper ​tiger."

NATO, which ⁠includes European countries, the U.S. and Canada, was formed in 1949 with the ​aim of countering the risk of Soviet ​attack ⁠and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.

“We've had some very bad allies in ⁠NATO,” ​Trump said. "Hopefully, we're never going ​to need them. I don't think we will need them."