Trump plans significant changes to NATO, according to NBC
The US might opt to support only those member states that fulfill the bloc’s defense spending criteria. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
According to claims made by a media outlet, the US may restrict its defense commitments to NATO countries that fulfill the bloc’s spending targets.
Four former and current officials informed NBC that such a policy could represent a significant shift from a fundamental principle of NATO, which asserts that an attack on any member is regarded as an attack on all members.
The report indicates that a similar approach might be applied to joint military exercises and American troop deployments overseas. Washington might prioritize training exercises with NATO allies that meet defense spending benchmarks and could also realign its forces in Europe based on these criteria.
During President Donald Trump's administration, there were indications of a planned reduction in the US military presence in Europe. Furthermore, the president recently encouraged the EU to take a more prominent role in its own defense and to shoulder the primary responsibility for future security commitments to Kiev.
Last month, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that Washington aims to shift its military focus towards countering China. He also cautioned European nations against assuming that US troop presence on their continent would be permanent.
Several senior US officials reached by NBC refuted the notion that any policy alterations would impact the mutual defense clause—Article 5. Senator Chris Coons, who serves as the leading Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense, remarked that Trump’s nominee for NATO ambassador, Matthew Whitaker, “gave very reassuring answers” concerning the administration’s obligations to Article 5.
Trump has frequently criticized NATO countries that do not meet the alliance's defense spending target of 2% of GDP. He has suggested increasing the mandatory defense contribution to 5% of GDP, although no member— including the US—currently meets this threshold. NATO estimates indicate that as of 2024, 23 member states met the 2% requirement, with only five, including the US, exceeding 3%. Poland remains the only country to allocate more than 4% of its GDP for defense.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
Four former and current officials informed NBC that such a policy could represent a significant shift from a fundamental principle of NATO, which asserts that an attack on any member is regarded as an attack on all members.
The report indicates that a similar approach might be applied to joint military exercises and American troop deployments overseas. Washington might prioritize training exercises with NATO allies that meet defense spending benchmarks and could also realign its forces in Europe based on these criteria.
During President Donald Trump's administration, there were indications of a planned reduction in the US military presence in Europe. Furthermore, the president recently encouraged the EU to take a more prominent role in its own defense and to shoulder the primary responsibility for future security commitments to Kiev.
Last month, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that Washington aims to shift its military focus towards countering China. He also cautioned European nations against assuming that US troop presence on their continent would be permanent.
Several senior US officials reached by NBC refuted the notion that any policy alterations would impact the mutual defense clause—Article 5. Senator Chris Coons, who serves as the leading Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense, remarked that Trump’s nominee for NATO ambassador, Matthew Whitaker, “gave very reassuring answers” concerning the administration’s obligations to Article 5.
Trump has frequently criticized NATO countries that do not meet the alliance's defense spending target of 2% of GDP. He has suggested increasing the mandatory defense contribution to 5% of GDP, although no member— including the US—currently meets this threshold. NATO estimates indicate that as of 2024, 23 member states met the 2% requirement, with only five, including the US, exceeding 3%. Poland remains the only country to allocate more than 4% of its GDP for defense.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
