"I would say [it's] beyond reconsideration," Trump told the UK's Telegraph newspaper, when asked if he would think twice about the U.S.'s membership of the alliance after the Middle East conflict is over.

"I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way," Trump added.

The president suggested that U.S. military action in Iran could end in "two to three weeks."

Tsahkna said NATO is beneficial for both Europe and the United States as it has ensured security on both sides of the Atlantic for nearly 80 years.

"All Allies would lose from any weakening of NATO," he said in a statement.

"Suggestions of withdrawing from NATO or even considering such a step are harmful, even if they are not acted upon," Tsahkna added.

The foreign minister reiterated that the only time the collective defense clause known as Article 5 has been invoked was by the USA following 9/11.

"NATO Allies have stood alongside the United States in operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere," he said.

Tsahkna said 11 Estonian soldiers were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and over 100 were wounded.

"Estonia highly values the contribution of the United States to transatlantic security and has always been ready to engage in open discussions with its Allies on our shared security," he said.

Allies now allocate billions more to defense than in previous decades after all members' spending rose above 2 percent of GDP last year, the minister said, adding that this shows "Allies take defence seriously."

The BBC reported last year, than in monetary terms, the U.S. is by far the biggest spender on defence, spending about $980bn (£720bn) last year, which was 62 percent of the NATO total.

The U.S. also had GDP greater than all the rest of the members of NATO put together in 2025, the outlet said.

Transatlantic relations have entered a new crisis

Speaking to Wednesday's "Aktuaalne kaamera," experts said transatlantic relations have entered a new crisis.

Leaving NATO has long been a fixation of Trump's, said Kristi Raik, director of the International Centre for Defense and Security. Whereas previously it was driven by the accusation that Europeans do not contribute enough, after the rapid increase in defense spending, that criticism is no longer convincing.

"But now came the operation in Iran, where the U.S. carried out the operation without consulting allies. Without having thought through what it wants to achieve and how it will ultimately exit this conflict. Now, European allies are likely convenient culprits for the fact that the situation is extremely complicated for Trump. His domestic popularity is also very low, so whether he ultimately has anything to gain by continuing this threat to leave NATO, I very much doubt," Raik said.

Raimond Kaljulaid (SDE), a member of the parliament's national defense committee, said transatlantic relations have reached a new crisis.

"I would take these messages from the U.S. administration seriously, because both the president and other high-ranking officials have spoken a lot about this in recent days. The United States is extremely disappointed in its NATO allies and intends to review the way it cooperates with NATO. Now U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also joined those conveying this message, who has generally been considered a more reasonable and pro-European U.S. politician," he said.

The U.S. president cannot withdraw the country from NATO alone. But for the alliance to lose credibility, much less is required, Kaljulaid said.

"But of course, everyone understands that if the president, the White House, the Department of Defense, and the State Department in the United States want it, then in essence it is possible to render the North Atlantic Treaty meaningless and nonfunctional in practice. That effectively achieves almost the same result as if the United States were to fully withdraw from NATO," the MP said.

Kaljulaid said Trump's inner circle may believe that a dispute over NATO could be beneficial to Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. At the same time, there are many NATO supporters within Republican ranks.

Calm nerves

Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna also reiterated that the situation needs to be taken "very seriously."

"Political tensions around Iran are high, and it certainly does not strengthen NATO's credibility at a time when the president of the United States clearly states that they are reviewing their commitment to NATO," he said.

"Certainly, it may also be difficult for President Trump at home to explain where the quick success has gone, why oil prices are also rising in America, and this may well be part of that political crisis where the finger is pointed, saying that Europe is to blame for the lack of a quick and effective solution," Tsahkna said.

The minister added that the situation must be "calm nerves."

This article was updated to add comments from Margus Tsahkna, Kristi Raik and Raimond Kaljulaid.

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