On Thursday, the US president raised questions about NATO’s commitment, wondering if member countries like France would stand by the US if it were attacked. This reflects ongoing concerns about alliance reliability.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded firmly, stating that France has always been a loyal ally in NATO. He pointed out the historical bond between the two nations, recalling figures like Marquis de Lafayette, who fought alongside the US during its Revolutionary War.
Macron also expressed a hope for mutual respect, saying, “We have shown respect and friendship toward the US. We expect the same in return.”
Meanwhile, the US president reiterated his stance that NATO allies must pay their fair share for defense. He suggested that if they don’t, the US may not come to their aid. Under NATO’s Article 5, member states are obligated to support one another in case of an attack, but Trump’s comments still raised eyebrows.
He stated, “If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them.” This viewpoint is not new, as it aligns with his earlier terms in office, which encouraged European countries to boost their defense spending closer to the 2% target.
Trump mentioned uncertainty about whether NATO members would defend the US if attacked, particularly singling out France. However, it’s important to remember that after the September 11 attacks in 2001, NATO allies did rally to support the US, marking a significant moment in the alliance’s history.
Comments from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently added to this tension, indicating that the US wouldn’t join a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, casting further doubts on defense commitments to NATO allies.
Despite this, Trump’s nominee for NATO ambassador, Matt Whitaker, assured during his confirmation hearing that US support for the alliance remains “ironclad.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the strong ties between the US and Europe. He acknowledged Trump’s pressure on European nations to increase their defense budgets but insisted the alliance is still solid.
Trump believes that NATO could be beneficial if spending issues were addressed, expressing frustration over trade matters. Last year, former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted that a record number of member countries had met their defense spending goals, attributing this increase partly to Trump’s calls for higher spending.
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Source linkDonald Trump,NATO,Pete Hegseth
