 "Trump says will 'absolutely' consider pulling US out of Nato if...")
President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his stance on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), stating in a recent interview that he would “absolutely” consider withdrawing the United States from the alliance if member nations do not meet their financial obligations.
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump said, “They have to pay their bills” and demanded fair treatment of the US within Nato.
Nato members’ defence spending under scanner
Trump’s reference to fairness pertains to the commitment made by Nato members to allocate at least 2 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to defence spending.
This pledge aimed to ensure equitable burden-sharing among allies. However, as of 2023, only 11 of the 31 Nato countries had met this target, with nations like Luxembourg spending as little as 0.58 per cent of their GDP on defence.
Additionally, countries like Bulgaria are pushing to increase their defence spending above the 2 per cent GDP threshold.
In response to concerns about US commitment, European Nato members have taken steps to bolster their defence capabilities. The European Union is planning a €500 billion joint fund to finance defence projects and arms procurement, aiming to reduce reliance on US military support.
Challenges to pulling US out of Nato
In December 2023, the US Congress, under the Biden administration, has already approved legislation requiring a Nato withdrawal to be ratified by either a two-thirds majority approval from the Senate or be authorized through an act of Congress.
Some analysts suggest that the law may not be entirely foolproof. According to Politico, Trump could cite presidential authority over foreign policy— an approach he used before to bypass congressional restrictions on treaty withdrawal.
What US withdrawal could mean for Nato
The US plays a key role in Nato’s military operations, funding, and strategic planning. The potential US withdrawal from Nato has already raised a significant concerns about the alliance’s future.
Washington’s departure could weaken collective defence mechanisms, embolden adversarial actions from nations like Russia, and compel European members to assume greater defence responsibilities.
A drastic shift in the balance of power would be likely in such a scenario. Public insecurity and frustration in Europe, too, can be expected.
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