The Donald Trump administration is reportedly looking for ways to punish allies who did not support the US in its war with Iran, with a report suggesting that the White House has come up with a tiered “naughty and nice list” for NATO member countries.
According to a Politico report citing three European diplomats and a US war official, the so-called list categorises alliance members based on their defence contributions and broader cooperation, placing them into different tiers. It has been developed ahead of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Washington, the report added.
Trump has been critical of many European allies for not helping the US with the Iran war and then reopening the Strait of Hormuz, both of which have sent oil prices soaring and the world economy into a tailspin.
Even before the war, the Republican leader had continuously warned NATO that allies who fail to meet US expectations on defence burden-sharing or strategic support could face consequences, further straining already tense transatlantic relations.
Who is on the US 'naughty and nice’ list?
US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth had hinted at who could be on the US “nice list”. "Model allies that step up, like Israel, South Korea, Poland, increasingly Germany, the Baltics and others, will receive our special favour," he had said, while warning that “allies that still fail to do their part for collective defence will face consequences.”
{{/usCountry}}US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth had hinted at who could be on the US “nice list”. "Model allies that step up, like Israel, South Korea, Poland, increasingly Germany, the Baltics and others, will receive our special favour," he had said, while warning that “allies that still fail to do their part for collective defence will face consequences.”
{{/usCountry}}According to a diplomat quoted in the Politico report, the thinking of the White House is “similar” to what Hegseth had suggested.
The reported framework could benefit countries like Poland and Romania, which have supported US military operations and increased defence spending, while placing others, such as Spain, under scrutiny for resisting NATO spending targets as well as being critical of the Iran war and Israel.
However, it is not yet clear what specific incentives or penalties may be applied. The options reportedly include adjustments in troop deployments, joint military exercises, and defence sales.
"They don't seem to have very concrete ideas...when it comes to punishing bad allies," another European official quoted by Politico said, adding, "Moving troops is one option, but it mainly punishes the US, doesn't it?"
What did the White House say?
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the Donald Trump administration's stance, saying that “so-called allies” of Washington have not been there for the US throughout the Iran war, codenamed Operation Epic Fury.
"While the United States has always been there for our so-called allies, countries we protect with thousands of troops have not been there for us throughout Operation Epic Fury," Kelly said, adding that "President Trump has made his thoughts on this unfair dynamic clear, and as he said, the United States will remember.”
The Pentagon also reiterated its approach, stating that it "will prioritise cooperation and engagements with model allies who are doing their part for our collective defence."
Former officials have questioned the administration's capacity to escalate tensions with Europe amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.