LEILA FADEL, HOST:
President Trump has warned NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the U.S. may leave the transatlantic military Alliance.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
They had a meeting in Washington yesterday. The president says he's unhappy that some members of NATO refused Trump's demands to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The United States launched a war against Iran without consulting NATO allies. He hosted Rutte at the White House yesterday and then posted this on social media, in all caps, quote, "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again." Coming up, we'll talk through the prospects for the ceasefire holding in Iran. First, let's take a closer look at that NATO meeting.
FADEL: NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez is here to discuss the latest meeting. Good morning, Franco.
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Leila.
FADEL: So what came out of the NATO meeting?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah. I mean, it was a frank and open discussion, where, according to the secretary general, Trump raised his disappointment about countries who did not help the U.S. And in an interview with CNN, Rutte said he could see Trump's point.
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MARK RUTTE: At the same time, I was also able to point to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they lived up to the commitments.
ORDOÑEZ: Now, he would not say whether Trump told him he wanted to leave or, as The Wall Street Journal reported, is considering pulling U.S. troops from countries who were unhelpful. Now, Trump has long had a rocky relationship with NATO, but this war has really wrecked what foundation was left. And, you know, Trump's rage has just only intensified, calling NATO a paper tiger and attacking some leaders even by name.
FADEL: Yeah. And some of those European leaders that he was attacking, they say they weren't consulted about this war in the first place. What do you make of the joint statement from some members, including Britain, Germany and France, committing to ensuring freedom of navigation of the Strait of Hormuz?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah. I wouldn't say it's very specific. Earlier in the war, leaders did express reluctance to get involved, worried about being drawn into a broader conflict. But diplomats did tell me before that their posture could shift once the war is officially over.
FADEL: Now, the ceasefire is already being tested by the heaviest and most wide-ranging Israeli strikes on Lebanon since the start of this war. Could that put this entire deal at risk?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah. I mean, it's very fragile. The White House says Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire. But the Iranian foreign minister says the terms are clear and that Washington must choose between a ceasefire or continue the war via Israel. Actually, while President Trump remained behind closed doors yesterday, Vice President JD Vance spoke to reporters in Hungary, and he called it a misunderstanding.
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JD VANCE: No ceasefire ever goes without a little bit of choppiness. What we have been very clear about is that we want to stop the bombing. We want our allies to stop the bombing, and we want the Iranians to do the same thing. We're seeing evidence that things are going in the right direction, but it's going to take a little time.
ORDOÑEZ: Vance is actually going to lead a high-level team of negotiators to Pakistan to meet with Iranian officials about the ceasefire.
FADEL: Now, the ceasefire was contingent on the Strait of Hormuz being open, but the Iranians said it was not, because of the strikes in Lebanon. Did the White House give any clarity on that?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on those reports, and she argued that what the Iranian government is saying publicly is very different than what it's saying privately. But I will just add that our own Mara Liasson tried to press Leavitt on who currently controls the strait - pushed her several times - and Leavitt would not answer.
FADEL: That's White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez reporting on this. Thank you, Franco.
ORDOÑEZ: Thank you, Leila. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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