Trump's NATO bluff? “It will not withdraw the US from NATO, but it can withdraw soldiers”

US President Donald Trump is unlikely to withdraw his country from NATO, but he may take other steps, such as withdrawing American troops from Europe, Spanish media commented on Wednesday. In their opinion, Trump's current threats are more serious than those during his first term in the White House.

Trump stated in an interview with the British daily The Telegraph published on Wednesday that he was seriously considering withdrawing the US from NATO, calling the Alliance a “paper tiger”. According to the newspaper, this is the strongest signal so far that Washington no longer considers Europe a reliable defense partner after European NATO countries refused to allow Trump to send ships to the Middle East to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.

As noted by the Madrid-based daily ABC, any doubts about the continued US membership in NATO are of “huge historical importance because they would not only affect the military alliance, but also the security system that has shaped relations between the US, Canada and Europe for over 70 years.”

The newspaper recalled that Trump had already threatened to weaken NATO during his first term, but “at that time his pressure was mainly in the form of negotiation rhetoric regarding military spending and burden sharing.” “Now the stakes are higher: The anger in the White House is real and related to a specific war (with Iran).”

In the opinion of “ABC”, Spain's situation is particularly important here, because the government in Madrid has been repeatedly criticized by Trump for too low defense spending, and recently also for preventing American troops from using Spanish bases to attack Iran and closing the airspace for US planes taking part in the war. “These decisions are perceived in Washington as a direct insult from an ally within the Atlantic structure,” wrote “ABC.”

In turn, the daily “El Pais” noted that Trump cannot “simply, unilaterally” withdraw his country from the Alliance without the support of the American parliament. However, the newspaper emphasized that Washington may take other steps, such as withdrawing troops from Europe.

“Moreover, if Trump calls into question Article 5 of the Washington Treaty on collective defense and ensures that he will not defend some of his allies, this will weaken the deterrent nature of the organization,” El Pais said.

From Madrid Marcin Furdyna (PAP)

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