Washington DC: Mark Rutte met US President Donald Trump behind closed doors on Wednesday as tensions rose over the alliance’s response to the Iran conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The meeting followed a US-Iran agreement on a two-week ceasefire late Tuesday, which includes plans to reopen the key oil shipping route after disruptions drove global energy prices higher. Trump had earlier warned of strikes on Iranian infrastructure, increasing pressure ahead of the truce.
Trump, a long-time critic of NATO, has suggested the US could leave the alliance after member nations did not back his call to secure the strait. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the issue was under discussion.
However, a 2023 law requires congressional approval for any US withdrawal from NATO.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Rutte discussed the Iran conflict, the war in Ukraine and coordination within the alliance. Trump has also voiced frustration over restrictions imposed by allies such as Spain and France on US military access during the conflict.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell defended NATO, urging the administration to prioritise unity. The alliance, founded in 1949, operates on a principle of collective defence and last invoked it after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
