NATO has no contingency plan if US leaves, says Politico
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
NATO has no plans for an emergency scenario such as a potential US withdrawal from the Alliance, Politico reports.
According to the outlet, which referenced three diplomats from the military bloc, given that the United States is NATO's largest partner, the Alliance is not a place where members can plan for any kind of post-American future.
"That would defeat the very purpose of NATO," one senior Alliance diplomat said.
According to Politico's sources, NATO has no contingency plans for operating without the United States.
However, they interpret signals from Washington not as a prelude to a US exit, but as a strong wake-up call for Europe, as Washington shifts its strategic focus to the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific.
US threats to leave NATO
Recently, media reports indicated that Washington is demanding that by 2027, Europe take on the lion’s share of responsibility for conventional defense within the Alliance, otherwise the US may limit its participation in coordination mechanisms.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that he expects European NATO members to increase defense spending. Washington proposed the target of 5% of GDP.
Today, it was also reported that US Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican, has introduced a bill to withdraw the United States from NATO.
In the bill, the congressman argued that NATO was created to counter the Soviet Union, which collapsed more than 30 years ago.
The legislation would require President Donald Trump to officially notify NATO of the withdrawal no later than 30 days after the law takes effect.
