NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to address the president's concerns over the military alliance, particularly in relation to the Iran war.
Trump had suggested the U.S. may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance after NATO member countries ignored his call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway.
However, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, which includes the reopening of the strait.
The meeting between Trump and Rutte comes as the U.S. Congress passed a law in 2023 that prevents any U.S. president from pulling out of NATO without its approval.
Trump has been a longtime critic of NATO and has previously threatened to leave the alliance, citing issues such as military spending and the alliance's response to the Iran war.
Despite the tensions, Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, issued a statement in support of the alliance, urging Trump to be 'clear and consistent' and to prioritize deterring adversaries over nursing grudges with allies.
