Trump Questions NATO Commitment Over Funding: ‘If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them’
The president indicated that he might contemplate relinquishing a crucial aspect of the NATO security agreement if member countries do not increase their defense spending.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump raised doubts on Thursday regarding a fundamental principle of the NATO security alliance: that an attack on one member is an attack on all, necessitating a collective response.
During a bill signing event in the Oval Office, Trump informed reporters that he might reconsider the U.S. commitment to the security pact unless the 32-nation alliance increases its defense spending, which he has consistently urged.
“Well, I think it’s common sense,” Trump stated. “If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them.”
These comments appear to intensify the anti-NATO sentiments that characterized Trump’s first term, which contributed to the passage of a law in 2023—signed by President Joe Biden—mandating either two-thirds Senate approval or congressional action for the U.S. to withdraw from NATO.
Trump expressed that while he considers NATO "potentially good," he is skeptical about the willingness of European allies to defend the U.S.
“If the United States was in trouble and we called them … you think they’re going to come and protect us? They’re supposed to. I’m not so sure,” he remarked.
Last year, Keith Kellogg, a former member of the National Security Council during Trump’s presidency and his current special envoy to Ukraine, suggested a policy to revoke security guarantees from countries that fail to meet NATO's spending guideline of 2 percent of GDP on defense.
Trump's recent statements come during a particularly delicate period, as the U.S. is withdrawing military and intelligence aid for Ukraine to press the nation into reaching a settlement to end its conflict with Russia. Meanwhile, European allies are stepping up their support for Ukraine to confront the ongoing Russian invasion.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a strong ally of Ukraine who maintains a friendly relationship with the Trump administration, introduced her own proposal regarding Article 5 on Thursday. At an emergency EU leaders' summit, she suggested that an effective security guarantee would involve extending the defense pact’s coverage to Kyiv, ensuring protection from all NATO members.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a bill signing event in the Oval Office, Trump informed reporters that he might reconsider the U.S. commitment to the security pact unless the 32-nation alliance increases its defense spending, which he has consistently urged.
“Well, I think it’s common sense,” Trump stated. “If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them.”
These comments appear to intensify the anti-NATO sentiments that characterized Trump’s first term, which contributed to the passage of a law in 2023—signed by President Joe Biden—mandating either two-thirds Senate approval or congressional action for the U.S. to withdraw from NATO.
Trump expressed that while he considers NATO "potentially good," he is skeptical about the willingness of European allies to defend the U.S.
“If the United States was in trouble and we called them … you think they’re going to come and protect us? They’re supposed to. I’m not so sure,” he remarked.
Last year, Keith Kellogg, a former member of the National Security Council during Trump’s presidency and his current special envoy to Ukraine, suggested a policy to revoke security guarantees from countries that fail to meet NATO's spending guideline of 2 percent of GDP on defense.
Trump's recent statements come during a particularly delicate period, as the U.S. is withdrawing military and intelligence aid for Ukraine to press the nation into reaching a settlement to end its conflict with Russia. Meanwhile, European allies are stepping up their support for Ukraine to confront the ongoing Russian invasion.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a strong ally of Ukraine who maintains a friendly relationship with the Trump administration, introduced her own proposal regarding Article 5 on Thursday. At an emergency EU leaders' summit, she suggested that an effective security guarantee would involve extending the defense pact’s coverage to Kyiv, ensuring protection from all NATO members.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
