White House Ranks NATO Allies on Spending and Iran Support

The White House has developed an internal assessment ranking NATO member countries into tiers based on their defense spending, military cooperation, and support for U.S. operations in the ongoing war against Iran, officials familiar with the matter said. The list, prepared ahead of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Washington this month, aims to identify allies for closer collaboration and those facing potential reductions in U.S. military engagement.

The initiative reflects longstanding frustrations within the Trump administration over what it views as uneven burden-sharing among NATO partners, particularly during the conflict involving U.S. and Israeli forces in the Middle East, including operations near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed the concept last year, emphasizing rewards for compliant nations. "Exemplary allies who have stepped up, such as Poland, Germany, the Baltic states and others, will be particularly favored by us," Hegseth said. "Allies who continue to fail to do their part for collective defense will face the consequences."

According to diplomats and Pentagon officials involved in the discussions, countries like...