Czech President Pavel says Trump undermined NATO trust more than Putin

Czech President Petr Pavel on Thursday said recent statements by US President Donald Trump have done more to weaken trust in NATO than Russian President Vladimir Putin has over several years.

Speaking in remarks reported by The Guardian, Pavel warned that such rhetoric risks undermining the alliance’s core principle of collective defence.

He stressed that NATO is built on deterrence and readiness to act as a unified force, adding that doubts about solidarity among member states threaten its fundamental role.

Pavel also described Trump’s criticism of allies over their level of support in Middle East conflicts as “unfair”, noting that NATO is a defensive alliance and is not automatically obliged to engage in wars beyond its territory.

He said European partners were not initially informed about the objectives of recent operations, and when the situation escalated unexpectedly, Trump expressed frustration over the lack of allied support in the Strait of Hormuz.

Former UK national security officials have recently suggested reassessing ties with Washington, warning that tensions surrounding Iran have strained trust between allies.

Trump had earlier called on European partners to take full responsibility for security in the Strait of Hormuz following the end of hostilities with Iran.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said after meeting Trump that the US President was “clearly disappointed” by the alliance’s refusal to directly participate in military action against Iran.