Trump Considers Tying NATO Support to Defense Spending Levels
The potential policy shift could challenge NATO's foundational principle of collective defense under Article 5.
- President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring changes to U.S. NATO commitments, potentially linking military support to member nations' defense spending.
- The proposed change could mean the U.S. would not defend NATO allies that fail to meet the 2% GDP defense spending target.
- Trump has also suggested increasing the defense spending threshold for NATO members from 2% to 5% of their GDP.
- The administration is considering prioritizing military exercises and troop deployments for countries that meet the spending requirements.
- European ambassadors have expressed concerns about the potential policy shift, which could undermine NATO's core principle of collective defense.