During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Donald Trump hardened his tone towards the Alliance's European members on Wednesday.

Is the divorce final? The White House sharply hardened its tone against NATO on Wednesday, accusing its European allies of having insufficiently supported the United States in the war against Iran, illustrating a rise in transatlantic tensions at the highest level.

Before this discreet meeting, which remained without official communication, between Donald Trump and the Secretary General of the Alliance, Mark Rutte, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt relayed particularly harsh remarks from the American president: "They were put to the test, and they failed," adding that it was "quite sad that NATO has turned its back on the Americans over the past six weeks, when it is the Americans who are funding their defense."

Trump and the United States may well leave NATO

This anger is accompanied by concrete threats. When asked about a possible US withdrawal from NATO, the spokesperson indicated that "it's something the president is discussing," specifying that the subject would be addressed with Mark Rutte. According to the Wall Street Journal, the administration is also considering redeploying American troops from countries deemed uncooperative.

The discussions held in Washington, which included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on operations against Iran, the war in Ukraine, and strengthening the "burden transfer" between allies. These topics reflect American expectations for increased engagement from NATO partners.

Trump claimed that Europeans are "cowards."

For several months, Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of the Europeans, whom he has notably called "cowards," while continuing to praise Mark Rutte as "a great, awesome guy." The Secretary-General is trying to maintain a delicate balance between defending allies and the relationship with Washington.

Mark Rutte's visit, described as having been planned "for a long time," took place against a backdrop of tension following US-Israeli strikes against Iran and disagreements over securing the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on Tuesday provides for its reopening, while discussions also focused on the war in Ukraine and the overall security situation.