The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly categorized NATO allies into "exemplary" and "bad" lists based on their alignment with Washington's strategic priorities.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that this information was released by Politico, citing three European diplomats and an official from the US Ministry of Defense.
According to the sources, the White House has prepared a classification system that distinguishes between allies who support American interests and those who do not. One diplomat noted that "the White House has a list of good and bad allies." The list was reportedly finalized ahead of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Washington and specifically focuses on member states that have not supported the United States regarding its policy toward Iran.
The report indicates that the administration is discussing potential measures against allies who do not support US positions on Iran, though concrete steps have not yet been determined. "There is no specific plan for punishing 'bad' allies. Troop redeployment is one of the options, but this could impact the United States itself," a European official stated. The assessment also reportedly takes into account the financial and military contributions of NATO member states to the alliance.
This development follows long-standing discussions regarding burden-sharing and defense spending within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. US President Donald Trump has frequently called for member states to increase their defense budgets to meet the agreed-upon target of 2% of GDP. By linking NATO cooperation to specific foreign policy objectives, such as the US stance on Iran, the administration continues to emphasize a transactional approach to international security and regional stability.
