Polish defense minister says ‘no NATO without US’ after Trump remarks

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said there is "no NATO without the US" following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Washington could reconsider its role in the alliance.

In an interview with The Telegraph published on Wednesday, Trump described NATO as a "paper tiger" and criticized European allies over their limited involvement in the Middle East conflict. When asked whether the United States might reconsider its membership, he said it was "beyond reconsideration."

Reacting to the comments, Kosiniak-Kamysz said they reflected "the difficult moment the world is in today" and expressed hope that tensions would ease.

"There is no NATO without the US, and it is in our interest that calm prevails. But there is also no US power without NATO," he said, according to Polish media outlet TVP World.

Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for not taking a more active role in the Middle East, including declining to send warships to help reopen shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and limiting US access to regional bases.

Most NATO members, however, have distanced themselves from the conflict and called for de-escalation, stressing the alliance's defensive nature and raising concerns about the legality of US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said maintaining strong ties with Washington remains essential for Poland's security.

"We must also withstand the emotional tensions that come with words that one day are one way, and the next day may be different," he said.

He added that strengthening Poland's own military capabilities is key to reinforcing the alliance. "No one will defend us if we cannot defend ourselves," he said.

Poland currently spends nearly 5% of its gross domestic product on defense, the highest level among NATO members and well above the alliance's 2.5% target.

The minister also said Poland would not send its Patriot air defense systems to the Middle East, following reports that Washington had requested their deployment in its conflict with Iran.

Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies over defense spending and raised questions about the alliance's future, prompting concern among European partners.