How they see us: Trump’s chilling NATO threat
Donald Trump’s threat to abandon NATO allies has unleashed “sheer horror” across Europe, said Oliver Moody in The Times (U.K.). The former and possibly future U.S. president last week “shrugged off the American promise that has underpinned Europe’s security since 1949,” saying he would refuse to defend any NATO member that hasn’t met alliance defense-spending targets. Most shockingly, he added that he might actually encourage the Russians to attack such countries and “do whatever the hell they want” to them. Most of the 31 NATO members—including France, Germany, and Italy—fall short of the goal of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense, and European leaders united in condemnation of Trump’s threat. “NATO,” said European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, “cannot be an à la carte military alliance that depends on the whim of the U.S. president.”
Trump can’t “single-handedly tear the United States out of NATO”—he’d need two-thirds of the Senate to do that, said Dirk Hautkapp in Berliner Morgenpost (Germany). But the mere suggestion that the U.S. might not come to Europe’s aid strikes a death blow to deterrence against Russia. And we have to take the prospect seriously. During Trump’s presidency, he had “adults in the room” to restrain him, but next time “the wouldbe dictator will most likely surround himself with yes-men.”
Nor is Europe the only region at risk if Trump returns to power, said Hannes Stein in Die Welt (Germany). Trump’s rejection of Article 5, the collective defense clause in the NATO treaty, suggests he would “probably not be willing to defend Taiwan against mainland China,” either. He seems to see America’s relations with its allies as “mafia-style protection rackets: America defends, the others pay.” Anyone who doesn’t pony up “is left on the doorstep of the other mafia boss with their hands and feet tied.”
Trump’s threat “looks like a betrayal of the West and a gesture of sympathy for Putin,” said Zbynek Petracek in Lidove Noviny (Czech Republic). But you have to admit he has a point, however “arrogantly and rudely” he expressed it. The EU is larger than the U.S., with a population of 450 million compared with 330 million Americans, and we are the ones living in Russia’s shadow. Why should we expect the U.S. to fund our defense and “come to our rescue”? Fortunately, thanks to his complaints and veiled threats when he was first in office, Trump has already spurred plenty of countries to beef up their defenses. In 2016, when he was elected, the U.K. was the only other NATO member to exceed 2 percent defense spending; now, nine more allies do, too. At this point, we have to behave as if U.S. assistance is not guaranteed, said Stefano Stefanini in La Stampa (Italy). Trump’s isolationism “strikes a long-forgotten but profound chord in the U.S. electorate.” If not him, another isolationist will likely occupy the Oval Office someday. It’s time for us to “take responsibility for our own security,” by spending significantly more on weapons and training. If we catch a break and Trump loses, “the transatlantic bond will be that much stronger.”