US govt assesses Nato allies with ‘naughty and nice’ list

Washington: The Donald Trump administration has reportedly developed a “naughty and nice” list to categorise Nato allies based on their contributions and support for US military engagement with Iran. The initiative, linked to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, aims to reward “model allies” with special favours while penalising those failing their collective defence obligations.

Nations such as Poland and Romania are expected to receive positive assessments for high defence spending and providing airbase access. In contrast, the majority of Nato members have declined involvement in Gulf hostilities, drawing sharp rebukes from the US President. Speaking in Arizona, Trump described the alliance as “absolutely useless” when needed for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the US must maintain self-reliance.

Punitive measures for underperforming allies could include relocating US personnel or restricting defence technology sales. However, European officials expressed scepticism, noting that such moves might ultimately prove more detrimental to Washington than the intended targets. 

“Moving troops is one option, but it mainly punishes the US, doesn’t it?” one official remarked. These frictions follow long-standing disputes over European defence spending and previous diplomatic disagreements, further straining the relationship between the US and its traditional Western partners.