‘We must applaud Trump’: NATO chief now backing president, admits allies ‘slow’ to support U.S.

President Donald Trump has been harshly critical of the reluctance and sometimes outright opposition from NATO allies in the current fight with Iran over its nuclear threat ambitions, and the military campaign to make sure that no longer exists.

Those allies have moved several ways to disassociate themselves from the conflict, even oppose America, as France, Spain and Italy have restricted U.S. military access to bases or airspace routinely used by NATO members.

Now NATO chief Mark Rutte has admitted the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were slow to respond, and those things now should be changing.

In a report in the Daily Mail, Rutte said allies have been “slow” in responding to America, but member nations now are doing “everything” Trump requests.

“When it came time to provide the logistical and other support the United States needed in Iran, some allies were a bit slow, to say the least. In fairness, they were also a bit surprised,” he claimed.

The result of that surprise turned into “frank” discussions with Trump, he said.

“The president, myself, we like each other, we’ve been good friends for many years now and I’d rather have the conversation on the table,” he said. “I sensed his disappointment about the fact that he felt that too many allies were not with him.”

Rutte’s comments came after he met with Trump this week, and he said he has briefed other members regarding plans for the securing of the Strait of Hormuz, the report said.

Trump by now has moved beyond calling for NATO members to step up, and issued an ultimatum requiring a commitment for Strait assistance, implying that America eventually would not want to be a part of the group.

On social media, Trump said, “None of these people, including our own, very disappointing, NATO, understood anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!”

Rutte said, actually, “We must applaud Trump for his bold leadership and vision.”

He noted that to maintain the element of surprise, Trump didn’t inform allies ahead of the military moves against the rogue Islamic regime, the world’s biggest sponsor of terror, in Tehran.

But they now have reacted, he said, and allies “are doing everything the United States is asking.”

The report explained, “The chief promised NATO will not be ‘unhealthily reliant’ on the U.S., promising America will have allies that are ‘capable and ready, willing and able to defend’ NATO’s security.”

Pete Hegseth, the U.S. War secretary, had just taken a swipe at “allies.”

At a press briefing regarding a two-seek ceasefire, he said Israel is a “brave, willing and capable ally” and others “should take some notes.”

Trump unleashed earlier on social media: “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.”

Canada, the Czech Republic, Albania, North Macedonia, Lithuania, and Latvia are among the NATO members who have publicly backed the strikes on Iran.