Trump's Anger at NATO Allies Unites Them Against Him - Politico

According to a report by Politico, which conducted interviews with 24 ministers, officials, and diplomats, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has plunged the NATO military alliance into what may be the most profound crisis in its 77-year history. It has been noted that Trump and his team have promised to reconsider the United States' membership in NATO following the conclusion of the war in Iran, as European allies have declined to join the conflict against Iran.

The article highlights that European leaders and officials, meeting at dinners and in corridors in Brussels and other European cities, are actively discussing how to respond to Trump's threats to withdraw from NATO and what they plan to do if that happens. They share a grim sentiment that Trump's increasingly aggressive attacks on the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and other countries underscore a fundamental rift in the transatlantic alliance.

While leaders have yet to finalize their response to Trump's actions, some countries are already seeking to expand their defense and security agreements to circumvent instability within NATO. One unnamed European diplomat pointed out that NATO is effectively paralyzed, as meetings cannot even be held. He stated that the Alliance could be heading towards disintegration and emphasized that Europe must urgently strengthen its own defense: 'We cannot wait for it to completely die.'

Last week, a closed dinner took place in Helsinki with leaders from 10 European countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands. They gathered without other officials and aides to engage in candid discussions about issues facing the transatlantic alliance. However, despite the discussions, they decided that they could not agree to Trump's demands to join military actions against Iran.

One unnamed official familiar with the discussions remarked: 'We all want the war to end, but we are not on the same wavelength as the U.S.' Trump wants NATO to help, but European leaders continue to resist, as 'most Europeans were not informed in advance, and the Persian Gulf has nothing to do with NATO.'

The crisis in Europe has a unifying effect: 'These 10 countries have always been very close to one another, but I would say they are even closer now,' the official added. The United States decided not to consult with European allies before launching its campaign against Iran, leading some European allies to refrain from using their air bases or airspace, as was the case with France.

Fabrice Potier, CEO of Rasmussen Global and former director of policy planning at NATO, noted: 'Trump is facing the consequences of his unilateral approach and of taking Europe for granted.' He emphasized that it is crucial for European allies to remain united in overcoming the fallout from Trump's anger.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced significant personal attacks from Trump, brushed off the insults, stating: 'No matter the pressure on me and others, no matter the noise, I will act in the national interest of Britain.' He also added that NATO is 'the most effective military alliance the world has ever seen,' and that the United Kingdom remains 'fully committed' to it.

Today, the United Kingdom is hosting a virtual summit with 35 countries to discuss 'all viable diplomatic and political measures' to restore freedom of navigation and trade in the region. All G7 members, except the U.S., as well as many smaller states, are expected to participate.

In private conversations, officials acknowledge that ongoing criticism from the U.S. inevitably weakens NATO, as the foundation of the alliance is Article 5 of the NATO founding treaty, which asserts that members will be ready to defend one another in the event of an attack. When this promise is called into question, NATO loses its deterrent power against Russian aggression. Trump, in turn, has turned doubts about NATO into his official policy.

However, for Europeans, there is still no unified answer to the question of how to restore trust in NATO or what to replace it with if the worst happens. Increasingly, European officials are seeking opportunities to create or strengthen alternative structures to prevent the disintegration of NATO. For years, NATO supporters have argued that Brussels should stay away from defense policy to avoid competing with or undermining the Alliance, as NATO has been the cornerstone of European security since 1949.

One European official stated that the EU is today 'extremely active' in defense matters, considering Trump's verbal attacks on NATO. The EU has already allocated 150 billion euros in loans for member states to invest in their defense, and is also 'exploring' Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, a clause on mutual defense. A new economic security plan is expected to be published this summer. 'We need to do everything to ensure that we are ready,' the official added.

Meanwhile, for the Baltic states, the importance of unity is driven by an existential threat from Moscow. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stated: 'For all allies, it is important at this moment to build bridges, not to destroy them.' He emphasized that anxiety over whether the U.S. is undermining NATO shows that the West is 'divided,' and that is precisely what Putin wants to see.

It is worth noting that President Donald Trump has stated that he is seriously considering the possibility of the U.S. withdrawing from NATO after allies did not support U.S. military actions against Iran. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker also reported that Trump is currently reviewing the issue of American support for European allies.