Trump's ex-emissary says that “NATO is an alliance of cowards” and proposes a new defense structure that includes Ukraine

Reserve Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump's former special envoy for Ukraine, believes NATO may need to be replaced, arguing that the organization has proved “cowardly” and ineffective during the conflict with Iran, accusations that have also been made by Donald Trump. Kellogg mentioned the provisions of Article 13 of the treaty establishing the North Atlantic Alliance, which allows exit from the organization, and said that Ukraine could also be included in a possible new defense organization.

In an appearance on Fox News, Kellogg harshly criticized NATO allies for their failure to address the conflict in Iran. He suggested that the United States could benefit from different defense partners.

“NATO is proving to be a coward,” said Kellogg, according to News.ro. “Maybe we need a new NATO, a new defense structure,” he added.

Kellogg pointed to Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that any party can leave NATO one year after giving notice of denunciation of the Treaty, as a way out.

The general then suggested alternative alliance structures.

“Let's redraw the defense alliances we have, maybe create one with Japan and Australia and some of those European countries that are willing to fight, like Germany or Poland, who have recently re-engaged. Even Ukraine, which has also proven to be a good ally,” Kellogg added.

Europe, “unable” to convince its peoples to go to war with the Americans

Former deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates took up Kellogg's criticism of NATO, saying the seven-decade-old alliance had proven to be “irrelevant”.

“They can't handle the biggest war in Europe since World War II. On their own continent, they haven't been able to handle it. So I don't think we really need them in the Middle East. It would have been nice to have their support. But what President Trump has shown is what the United States can do with a really motivated ally like Israel,” she said.

Coates argues that the devastation inflicted on the Iranian military serves as a powerful deterrent to Russia and China.

For his part, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who previously held positions related to NATO operations, described the state of the alliance as heartbreaking.

“I've been someone who has believed for decades that NATO is a very important group of allies,” Pompeo said.

“But to see them so powerless, unable to convince their own people, their own domestic audience, that this matters, to explain to them why they are safer as a result of what the United States has done, along with our friends in Israel, and then to help us in that mission … I think there's going to have to be a fundamental rethinking of how the United States makes sure that we know exactly who our allies are and what we can rely on in terms of them.”