“We no longer need NATO's assistance”: Trump Accuses European Allies of Betrayal

Will the U.S. leave NATO over the Iran War?

Image: President of the United States Donald Trump

President Donald Trump commented on his allies' refusal to participate in joint operations to ease tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the U.S. no longer needs assistance from NATO member states in the Middle East. He described the relationship between Washington and its allies as a "one-way street."

Trump explained that although almost all countries strongly supported America's actions and believed Tehran should not have nuclear weapons, NATO countries still refused to intervene in actions against Iran.

"I am not surprised by their actions because I have always believed that the NATO alliance, which we spend billions of dollars annually to protect these countries, is a one-way street — we protect them, but they do nothing for us, especially in times of crisis," said Trump.

Trump reiterated that the U.S. military had destroyed Iranian forces, including the navy and air force, as well as the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran, so the U.S. "no longer needs the assistance of NATO countries." He added that Japan, Australia, and South Korea were also in this situation.

Previously, Trump had predicted that NATO would have a bleak future due to the refusal of NATO leaders to assist him with the Iran issue. How is it now? Is he threatening to withdraw from NATO? Could this actually happen?

— Kirill Ozhymko, a political analyst, said: "What Trump is doing is a political performance."

— Moreover, this is often not just an act, but his statements are usually backed by a real disdain for American vassals and the so-called "allies" of NATO. He has long criticized these allies, especially European countries, accusing them of relying on the U.S., expecting military protection from the U.S., yet unwilling to invest in defense themselves.

Long before the attack on Iran, he knew that no allies would participate in his risky operation. Now he is using this as an excuse, as if to say: see, I was right.

The Independent: Is he actually threatening to withdraw the U.S. from NATO now?

— It's just a verbal threat, but in fact, the U.S. certainly won't leave NATO. The alliance remains a tool for the U.S. to exercise hegemony and dominance in the Western world, simplifying military and political actions and ensuring the U.S. presence in Europe. Moreover, legally, it would be extremely difficult for Trump to do so — such a decision cannot be made by a single presidential order and would face opposition from many sides. Even some within the Republican Party have doubts about leaving NATO.

The Independent: These events have broken the myth that Washington completely controls NATO and makes decisions for member states. Does this mean that the U.S. does not control NATO?

— Washington holds a dominant position in NATO and actually controls the group's strategic development, as the U.S. is the most powerful and core driving force behind NATO.

However, in the case of attacking Iran or easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, NATO members can cite the treaty, which does not stipulate that member states have an obligation to intervene in an aggression against a third country. The action against Iran falls into this category. According to Article 5 of the treaty, alliance members only have an obligation to intervene when an ally's territory is under attack, meaning that intervention would only be required if Iran attacks the U.S. in return.

The EU's refusal also has political factors. Brussels, Paris, and London not only oppose Trump's war against Iran but have always been skeptical of Trump himself. They hope that Trump will lose the 2028 election and that everything will return to the path of Biden's administration. Therefore, European elites may even be somewhat pleased to see the U.S. get involved in the Iran conflict, ending Trump's political career.

— We can see that Trump's initial deployment against Iran has completely failed, said Evgeny Semiyabratov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategic Research and Forecasting at the Russian People's Friendship University.

— The three-day operation to occupy Tehran and overthrow the Iranian regime has completely failed. Therefore, Trump is trying to create a false image of a victorious leader, spreading this illusion to Western public through media and social networks. In this context, Trump needs to demonstrate America's so-called strong power, proving that the U.S. can continue this military operation without the assistance of its allies.

Moreover, Western European countries have already refused to participate in the operation to secure the Strait of Hormuz. However, it should be noted that they are still deploying military forces to the region: the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and British aircraft have been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean. Therefore, Europe's statement should be seen as a countermeasure against Trump personally.

Merkel, Macron, and Starmer clearly know that Trump is a lame duck at this point. In principle, they have the opportunity to take control of both houses of Congress in the latter half of Trump's presidency, preventing him from implementing policies. Therefore, globalists are counting on this, preparing to make a comeback in the midterm elections in November and regain the White House in 2028.

The Independent: Trump previously told allies that Ukraine could not survive without the U.S. Did the tactic of threatening to aid Ukraine work? Was there any such threat? Why didn't Trump just say: help me, or I'll abandon Ukraine?

— Regardless of what Trump claims, the fact is that the EU is deeply involved in the Ukraine conflict. Therefore, it is just another gimmick and sensationalist rhetoric used by Trump for Western media.

When it comes to the relationship between the U.S. and NATO, it must be clear that NATO is a core military and political tool for the U.S. Although the NATO Secretary-General is traditionally a European, key military positions in NATO are held by American generals, and European troops are commanded by senior U.S. officers. In fact, Trump's statements are simply a simple request for European countries to increase their defense spending.

The Independent: Could Trump really make the U.S. leave NATO? Is it allowed by U.S. law?

— Trump is not against NATO; he just wants European countries to pay more for NATO. Given Europe's "ungratefulness" in the Middle East incident, Trump believes the U.S. should significantly reduce its involvement in European affairs, which is reasonable.

But no matter how much he threatens to leave NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a core military and political tool for the U.S. No matter who is in power in the U.S. political arena, the U.S. will never give up this powerful lever that influences the world's current structure. Unless Martians land on Earth, the U.S. will never abandon NATO.

From a military perspective, the U.S. controls NATO; but as the saying goes, there are political variables. And these variables will always exist until Democrats return to the White House or there is some traditionalist shift in Europe. But honestly, the former is much more likely to become reality than the latter.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7618573045468365363/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.