Trump: I saved NATO from the dustbin of history and collapse
Former US President Donald Trump asserted in new fiery remarks that he was the one who saved NATO from total collapse, indicating that the alliance would have fallen into the “dustbin of history” were it not for his interventions and strict policies during his presidency.
These remarks came via his personal social media platform, Truth Social, where Trump wrote on Tuesday: “No person or president has done more for NATO than President Donald J. Trump. If I hadn’t been around, NATO wouldn’t exist today.” He added sharply, “It would have been relegated to the dustbin of history. It’s sad, but true,” referring to the pressure he exerted on member states to increase their military spending.
Context of the dispute over military spending
These statements are an extension of Trump's well-known "America First" approach, which, during his presidency (2017-2021), was characterized by frequent and sharp criticism of European member states of the alliance. The main point of contention was the failure of several countries to meet the target of spending 2% of their GDP on defense, a goal agreed upon at the Wales Summit in 2014. Trump repeatedly argued that the United States bore an unfair financial burden for European defense, threatening on several occasions to reduce American support or even withdraw from the alliance if member states did not meet their quotas.
Strategic importance and impact of statements
These statements take on particular significance given current geopolitical tensions. Since NATO's founding in 1949 as a collective security shield against Soviet expansion, the United States has formed the backbone of the alliance's military power. Trump's remarks raise serious questions about the future of Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which stipulates that an attack on one member is an attack on all—the principle of collective defense that has ensured European stability for decades.
The repercussions of the American stance on global security
Observers believe that Trump's insistence on linking American protection to financial contributions is transforming traditional strategic alliances into commercial contractual relationships. This shift in American political doctrine has prompted several European countries, such as Germany and France, to rethink their defense strategies and work to strengthen their military independence, moving away from total reliance on the American security umbrella. While Trump's supporters argue that his pressure has indeed succeeded in pushing allies to increase their defense budgets, his critics fear that this rhetoric will fracture Western unity at a time when the world is facing unprecedented security challenges.
