Europe Lacks Answers on NATO Replacement if It Collapses – Media

In Brussels and across various European capitals, discussions are ongoing about how to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats concerning a potential withdrawal of the United States from NATO. According to sources, European leaders and officials currently lack a unified and clear concept for what could replace this military bloc.

This information was reported by 'European Truth', citing materials from Politico, which conducted interviews with 24 ministers, officials, and diplomats. One European diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated, 'The alliance is paralyzed – they can't even hold meetings. It is clear that NATO is already disintegrating. We cannot wait until the organization completely disappears.'

In private conversations, officials assert that the ongoing criticism from the United States significantly weakens NATO. The foundation of the alliance is the commitment to defend any member that comes under attack. When this promise is called into question, NATO loses its effectiveness as a deterrent against Russian aggression.

The publication also emphasizes that there is currently no consensus among Europeans on how to restore NATO's authority or what to replace it with in the event that the situation deteriorates to the worst-case scenario and the alliance disintegrates. Recently, European officials have increasingly expressed a desire to create or strengthen alternative structures.

Specifically, there is consideration of enhancing the role of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). As noted by one official, Ukraine has already joined the agreement on enhanced partnership with the JEF, and at some point, Canada may also establish closer ties with this group.

Another network gaining importance is the Nordic Defense Cooperation (Nordefco), which includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. These countries are exploring opportunities for defense collaboration, which could become a crucial element in the event of NATO's weakening.

Furthermore, interlocutors emphasize the growing role of the European Union in defense matters. Previously, NATO supporters argued that Brussels should stay out of defense policy to avoid competition with NATO or undermining its authority. However, EU officials now assert that the European Union is 'extremely active' in this area.

Trump's attacks on NATO have prompted the EU to allocate €150 billion in loans to member states for investing in their defense. Additionally, Brussels is examining Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, which discusses mutual defense, stated another EU official. This indicates that Europe recognizes the need to strengthen its own defense capabilities in light of emerging threats.

Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed that he is seriously considering the possibility of the United States withdrawing from the alliance. Meanwhile, according to media reports, discussions about the U.S. exiting NATO are not currently taking place in the U.S. Congress or the Pentagon, and within NATO itself, the threats from the White House are regarded as a bluff.