The Prime Minister of Finland commented on Trump's threats

US President Donald Trump is used to aggressive rhetoric, but his threats against NATO to withdraw troops from Europe are not worth attention, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said, commenting on the visit of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to Washington. His words are quoted by the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti.

"We have already seen many times over the past year or so: Trump's speeches are really tough, as are his threats," the politician said.

According to him, the United States has been threatening to reconsider its attitude to the protection of Europe for quite some time, so Trump's statements are not something special.

"This idea is embedded in the US security strategy. At the same time, the United States is extremely interested in staying in Europe," he explained, recalling that only the American Congress can make a decision to withdraw from NATO.

Rutte's meeting with Trump took place on Wednesday evening. After the meeting, the US President expressed confidence that NATO would not come to the aid of the United States again when Washington needed it. Rutte said he clearly felt Trump's disappointment with NATO.

Earlier in the day, White House press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said that the American president intends to have a very frank and direct conversation with him. She added that the alliance failed Trump's test when it refused to join the United States in confronting Iran.

As The Wall Street Journal wrote, citing officials in the US presidential administration, the United States is considering a plan to "punish" a number of NATO members for their position on the conflict with Iran, including the possible withdrawal of American troops from some countries of the alliance.