NATO Without America?

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The American Interest

NATO Without America?

KORI SCHAKE / Published on: May 25, 2017

Like democracy, our European allies are our worst option except for all the others. The Europeans need us, and we need them—let’s not call the whole thing off.

Apalpable sigh of relief emanated from NATO’s headquarters in Brussels and the capitals of 27 NATO members when Donald Trump finally had a good word to say about history’s most successful and enduring alliance. He did not, of course, go so far as to acknowledge NATO’s genuine achievements: agreeing in 1949 that an attack on any allied state would be considered an attack on all; creating in 1950 a structure of military commands that facilitates operations and creates a common strategic culture among members’ militaries; integrating West Germany as a military power into a cooperative framework in 1954; holding at bay bristling Soviet aggression for 45 years and Russian revanchism since; voluntarily sharing the burdens of a common defense—including nuclear weapons responsibilities; using America as a counterweight to potentially ruinous intra-European competition; reunifying Germany in 1991 without setting off alarms among European countries and Russia;   

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Investor’s Business Daily

EDITORIALS

·          5/25/2017

 

Did Trump Just Save NATO By Shaming It?

NATO: The mutual defense pact forged by the U.S. with its allies in Europe after World War II has, unfortunately, become a hollow alliance in recent years, with America shouldering most of the financial and military burdens. Thanks to President Trump, those days look to be at an end.

During last year's campaign, Trump had some rather harsh things to say about NATO, including "we pay too much," and that the military and political alliance needed to be "changed." He even suggested that the U.S. might leave NATO.

Such talk would clearly not endear him with other leaders. And Thursday's NATO meeting was not exactly a love fest. The media didn't help, doing all they could to play up imaginary splits and slights that they claim Trump made during his meeting with other NATO leaders.

During his speech, he bluntly took the other leaders to task for not spending enough on their own defense. What few will say in his defense  

If NATO is to continue, it must have a mission, and Trump just gave it one. And to fulfill that mission, it will have to have more money.  

http://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/did-trump-just-save-nato-by-shaming-it/

Edited May 27, 2017 by Draggingtree