- President Trump said he would encourage NATO members who don't meet spending expectations to do “whatever they want” to Russia.
- President Trump has long voiced criticism of the alliance, stoking concerns in European countries.
- His latest comments suggest he could undermine fundamental trust among NATO countries and threaten the strength of the alliance.
While on the campaign trail last weekend, former US President Donald Trump told supporters that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever it wants” to NATO members that are not paying their fair share.
This sentiment is not entirely new territory for President Trump, who has long expressed negativity and distrust of NATO, but it is shockingly incendiary, and it is clear that the United States is keeping its end of the bargain and coming to the aid. This is an open threat that it will not happen. In case the allies are attacked.
More specifically, it is a threat to Article 5, which gives the NATO alliance the strength to face challenges such as Russian aggression.
In the resulting backlash, his allies dismissed the remarks as just Trump being Trump, or even praised his blunt honesty. But few, if any, acknowledged what it was showing. If President Trump is re-elected, there is no need to remove the United States from NATO to undermine the binding trust that member states will defend each other in the event of a Russian attack.
At a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, President Trump refused to spend the equivalent of the recommended 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) on NATO collective defense for fellow “large” NATO countries. However, he said he had previously threatened to seek assurances that the United States would do so. It will help protect them in case Russia attacks.
“I said, 'Are you not paying? Are you delinquent?' He said, 'Yes, let's say that happened.' 'No, I won't protect you. In fact, I encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay,” Trump said, referring to letting Russia do what it wants.
Such a move would completely ignore Article 5, a key cornerstone of the alliance that guarantees that if a NATO ally falls victim to an attack, all other member states will cooperate to defend it. It will be. This provides collective defense and collective deterrence against Russia.
Addressing Article 5 will not be automatic and will depend in part on the political will and firm commitment of Member States to produce the desired effect.
It's not clear when, where, or even if the conversation Trump described took place. And as with many of President Trump's provocative and loud statements, especially regarding foreign policy, there are also questions about whether they translate into actual policy or whether they should actually be considered with any weight. .
Either way, his comments demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of how NATO works and how the United States benefits from it.
There are no dues to the alliance, but rather the members of the largest military bloc in history continue to invest in its success to deter an aggressive Russia and empower it to respond to other threats and challenges. is expected.
The United States may be the biggest donor, but it also benefits greatly. With NATO, the United States is surrounded by dozens of partners, protected by guaranteed allies in the event of war, and provided with economic and geopolitical support during heightened tensions with potential adversaries. . The days of unipolar America are gone, and the importance of having friends cannot be overstated.
It's a concept that President Trump's former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has repeatedly emphasized, telling NPR at one point, “Throughout history, we've seen countries with allies prosper and countries without allies decline.'' ” he said.
Article V has only been invoked once in the alliance's history, and that was in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
President Trump's recent comments regarding NATO have caused anxiety in Europe and received heavy criticism.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday: “Any suggestion that allies not defend each other undermines our overall security, including that of the United States, and puts American and European soldiers at greater risk.” ”, underscoring the necessary honesty between NATO allies. Defending Article 5 and how politics can easily undermine critical trust. President Trump stoked fears simply by suggesting that the United States would not come to the aid of its allies.
Mr. Trump regularly criticized the alliance during his first term as president, criticizing the defense spending of NATO members and suggesting it was not a fair deal for the United States. He has also privately discussed leaving NATO on several occasions, administration officials have told the news media.
The reaction was erratic. Critics say the measure not only undoes more than 70 years of work and commitment by countless U.S. policymakers and politicians, but also leaves Russian President Vladimir Putin extremely weakened. He said the ultimate gift would be NATO.
While various steps have been taken to prevent the president from leaving NATO, there are other ways to damage the alliance.
Questions remain as to whether Trump will try to pick up where he left off, as he is very likely to be the Republican nominee in this year's presidential election.
Stoltenberg said in comments Sunday that he expects “the United States will remain a strong and committed NATO ally, no matter who wins the presidential election,” before calling out any attacks on NATO members. He further emphasized, “We will be met with a strong, united response.'' . ”
The discussions come at a critical time for the alliance. NATO is facing a rather significant turning point.
Many member states continue to increase defense spending and invest heavily in military aid to Russia and Ukraine. In most cases, a full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 would have made the alliance stronger and closer, much to Putin's dismay.
And just last April, it added Finland as a new member state, further strengthening its grip on Russia. Sweden's promotion may be near. And while Ukraine has expressed a strong interest in joining as soon as possible, that process will likely have to wait until the end of the war.
For the most part, the majority of NATO appears more committed than ever to the longevity and success of the alliance, even as Republicans in Congress block aid to Ukraine with outside input from President Trump. The US commitment has recently been called into question as countries have been forced to reassess their commitments. Europe.
These developments make President Trump's comments even more concerning. If he is re-elected, it could take little time to sow anxiety in America's European allies and embolden Putin.
