Trump's Systematic Undermining of NATO: Threatening Withdrawal, Refusing Article 5
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Trump's first clear signal came in May 2017 at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where he delivered a speech at the unveiling of a 9/11 memorial wall without explicitly affirming Article 5 collective defense — the alliance's core commitment. His aides later said the affirmation had been removed from the speech at Trump's direction. Over the following years, Trump repeatedly demanded NATO allies pay 2% of GDP on defense, threatened withdrawal, and reportedly told European leaders in private that the U.S. might not come to their aid. In February 2024, during the 2024 campaign, Trump stated publicly that he would 'encourage' Russia to attack NATO members who he thought hadn't paid enough.
Overview
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an armed attack against one member shall be considered an attack against all. This commitment has been the foundation of European security for 75 years. It has been reaffirmed by every U.S. president who has addressed the alliance.
Trump did not reaffirm it in his first NATO address. He removed the affirmation before giving the speech.
The 2017 Omission
The 2017 NATO address was drafted with an Article 5 affirmation. National security officials had included it. Trump removed it before delivery. Standing at a memorial incorporating steel from the World Trade Center — the attack that had triggered the only invocation of Article 5 in NATO's history — he delivered a speech about burden sharing that left the alliance's core commitment unstated.
NATO ambassadors described a degree of uncertainty about U.S. commitments they had never experienced before.
The Private Threats
What Trump said in public was concerning. What European leaders reported he said in private was more so. Multiple accounts, corroborated by European diplomatic sources, described Trump telling leaders at private dinners and in bilateral meetings that the U.S. might not come to their defense if Russia attacked.
This is the credibility that NATO collective defense depends on. Once called into question, it cannot be fully restored by a subsequent statement.
The 2024 Statement
The February 2024 campaign statement was not ambiguous. Trump described a past conversation in which he told a European leader he would "encourage" Russia to attack NATO members who hadn't paid enough. He repeated it and defended it when asked.
The statement was made while Russia was conducting a war in Europe and while Trump was actively seeking to return to the presidency.
Timeline
Sequence of events
May 25, 2017
Trump speaks at NATO — omits Article 5 affirmation
Trump delivers an address at NATO headquarters in Brussels that includes no explicit affirmation of Article 5 collective defense — the first time a U.S. president had spoken at NATO and failed to reaffirm the alliance's core commitment. Aides confirm the affirmation was removed from the prepared text.
July 11, 2018
Trump threatens NATO withdrawal at Brussels summit
At the 2018 NATO summit in Brussels, Trump threatens to withdraw the U.S. from NATO if allies don't immediately meet the 2% GDP spending target. He delivers the threat in extraordinary terms, describing NATO as 'even worse' than NAFTA.
October 8, 2018
NYT reports Trump considered NATO withdrawal
The New York Times reports that Trump told senior advisors he wanted to withdraw from NATO in 2018. Aides reportedly worked to prevent him from doing so.
February 10, 2024
Trump states he'd encourage Russia to attack NATO members
At a campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump describes telling a European leader he would encourage Russia to attack NATO members who didn't pay enough: 'I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.' NATO allies and U.S. defense officials respond with alarm.
Sources
- ↑ Trump Gives Speech at NATO Without Explicitly Endorsing Article 5 — The New York Times
- ↑ Trump privately threatened to pull U.S. from NATO — The Washington Post
- ↑ Trump says he would encourage Russia to attack NATO members who don't pay — The Associated Press
Verification