Kellogg urges creation of new alliance with Ukraine as NATO alternative
Photo: retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg (Getty Images)
Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg has called for the creation of a new defense system due to NATO’s inability to effectively respond to global conflicts, which could include Ukraine, Fox News reports.
Criticism of NATO and a proposal for an alternative
Speaking on Fox News, Kellogg criticized NATO allies over their stance on the conflict in Iran, saying the alliance has shown itself to be cowards.
In his view, the United States should rethink its existing partnerships and consider the possibility of leaving the bloc.
"NATO needs to be redrawn...Maybe we need to have a new NATO, a new defensive establishment," Kellogg said.
He recalled Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which allows any country to withdraw from the alliance one year after formally notifying others.
A new configuration of allies
Kellogg proposed forming alliances with countries that are truly willing to fight. Among potential partners, he named Japan, Australia, Poland, and a reformed Germany. He also mentioned Ukraine.
"Even Ukraine, which has also proven to be a good ally as well," Kellogg said.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed this view, saying that NATO is "feckless" and the United States must fundamentally reassess which partners it can truly rely on in critical missions.
Former deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates added that NATO has proven itself "inconsequential" by failing to cope with the largest war in Europe since World War II.
According to her, the example of successful US-Israel cooperation shows that Washington can achieve its goals with motivated allies.
Trump’s threats
Talk of a potential US withdrawal from NATO intensified after President Donald Trump openly called the alliance a "paper tiger." He accused European partners of failing to take on military responsibility, particularly when it comes to ensuring security to help lower global oil prices.
The situation escalated on April 1, 2026, when the White House officially confirmed it was considering a withdrawal scenario. The reason was the allies’ refusal to support a US operation against Iran, which Trump viewed as a betrayal of shared security interests.
As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, despite the complexity of the legal process of withdrawing from the treaty, the Trump administration could already move to reduce financial contributions and pull US troops from key bases in Europe.
