Overview
- Trump met NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday to address a rift over the Iran war after a two‑week ceasefire paused strikes.
- The White House said Trump has discussed leaving NATO, though a 2023 law requires congressional approval for any U.S. withdrawal.
- The administration is weighing steps short of exit, including shifting U.S. troops and possibly closing bases in Spain or Germany, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- Allies refused combat roles in Iran operations, with Spain blocking U.S. use of airspace and bases and European governments declining to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
- Any eastward shift of U.S. forces to countries like Poland or Romania could place more troops near Russia and unsettle European security planning.