President Donald Trump floated the idea of NATO “joining” the U.S. in countering North Korea during his first meeting with then-NATO head Jens Stoltenberg in 2017, the former secretary general has recalled in his new memoir. 

Stoltenberg, a two-time Norwegian prime minister (2000-2001, 2005-2013) who led NATO from 2014-2024, said the topic of DPRK nuclear weapons came up during a “loose” conversation with Trump at the White House in April 2017.

“Talking about Russia, Trump suddenly exclaimed: ‘But why can’t you guys in NATO join us in Korea? They’re developing nuclear weapons, and that’s something we can’t accept,’” the official