NATO and the Phenomenon Called Trump
NATO and the Trump Barrier: Trump’s harsh remarks about NATO worry European partners and reignite discussions about a joint European Union defense. The NATO topic has infiltrated the U.S. election campaigns, creating significant concerns across the Atlantic.
In recent weeks, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements encouraging Russia to attack those NATO countries he believes are not spending enough on Atlantic Alliance defense have once again stirred controversy.
The presidential candidate for a second term emphasized on his Truth Social platform that during his administration, he succeeded in making European partners pay their dues, a result Trump described as a beautiful display. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate, after months of tough and lengthy negotiations, approved an aid package for Ukraine and Israel. However, this resolution still needs to be voted on in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold the majority.
The new declarations by this New York businessman do not leave the parties of the Old Continent indifferent, to the extent that the discussion about the need for a joint European Union defense system, complementing NATO, has once again become a topic of conversation. However, within the country, the reactions of various Republican representatives to Trump’s remarks once again showed that the former president still holds significant power and influence over the Elephant Party.
It’s just election propaganda.
The reduction of America’s military commitment globally has always been a strong point for Trump since his 2016 election campaign and victory. For NATO, this businessman’s policy was to ask allies to spend more to complete America’s protective umbrella. However, upon closer examination, it is observed that Barack Obama and George W. Bush also held positions similar to Trump’s.
Most likely, today’s former White House resident wants to use this issue again for his electoral goals, and this is at least what European partners assume or, to put it better, hope for.
Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, said these are strange words, perhaps originating from an election campaign, and added that this is not a good message, especially from someone who wants to lead the United States after the elections and invites the Russians to attack the Atlantic coalition countries. Tajani concluded by emphasizing that he is sure that with any president, the relations between Rome and Washington will remain strong.
Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, expressed his view indirectly but with a stronger tone. In a joint press conference with Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, he said no one should play with Europe’s security. The Federal Government head, emphasizing how Russia at this moment threatens our common security in Europe, added that the promise of NATO’s protection, ‘one for all, all for one,’ will be applied without limitation.
European Union Defense Commission
As periodically happens, when conflicts occur within NATO, the topic of joint European Union defense quickly returns to the center of discussion. The Italian Foreign Minister discussed this in a press conference with his Argentine counterpart, stating that Europe needs joint defense to be more significant in international politics. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, shares the same opinion. During her visit to Estonia, a member of the EU and the Atlantic Alliance, she said Europe must enhance its capabilities and create a new defense security framework that complements NATO but does not compete with it.
Additionally, the Baltic republics are among Ukraine’s main supporters in the face of Russian aggression, which has now entered its second year. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, along with Poland, are among the few countries that spend more than 2% of their GDP on defense matters and are geographically more exposed to Russian pressure. According to recent reports from Tallinn’s intelligence agency, the capital of Estonia, Moscow plans to double the number of troops stationed along its border with the Baltic countries and Finland.
Who is Trump’s Target Market?
The competition for the White House will likely not be determined by major international policy issues, but the Middle East crisis and the war in Ukraine, which fall within the scope of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and the U.S., will likely have significant space.
For instance, U.S. President Joe Biden personally experiences the consequences of Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 and the escalation of tensions, and subsequently, his administration is also affected by the outcomes of this war. Meanwhile, Trump achieves successes one after another among his party members and in the Republican primaries and never misses an opportunity to criticize the Democrats.
Most Republicans have downplayed or defended Trump’s remarks about NATO and have tried to avoid criticizing this influential businessman cautiously. Marco Rubio, a senator from Florida considered a hawk in U.S. defense and foreign policy, said, ‘When he was president, I was here, and he did not weaken or destroy NATO.’
Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota, who has always been a strong supporter of NATO and an advocate for sending military aid to Ukraine, said, ‘I think I will look at actions, not words.’ Therefore, Trump’s dominance over the party on foreign policy issues also seems very high, and in the coming months, more controversial statements and declarations may arise, aiming to gain more support.
Trump’s recent statements about NATO have well-known reasons but add new ones, such as explicitly encouraging Moscow to pressure its European allies and implicitly linking their defense spending to U.S. support, which should also concern Washington’s other allies outside Europe.
Years ago, such statements were considered election slogans, but today’s strategic conditions and Trump’s more radical and determined outlook make these words concerning. For Europeans, there have already been reasons for more investment and commitment in defense matters, even beyond Trump’s exit, but perhaps his statements will strengthen their motivation to create a joint European Union defense system.
Operational strengthening of NATO’s European pillar and the continuous and sustained use of the European Union’s own resources, legally and financially, are not zero-sum alternatives but should come together to create mid- to long-term synergy to defend Europe and Europeans.
