Trump expresses doubts NATO will back US
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump stated that his main fear is that NATO would refuse to assist the US if needed. However, Washington would provide support to the Alliance if required, states the American leader during a White House briefing.
At the same time, Trump emphasized that the US spends enormous amounts of money on the Alliance.
“The big fear I have with NATO is we spend tremendous amounts of money with NATO, and I know we'll come to their rescue, but I just really do question whether or not they'll come to ours. You know, just, I'm just asking. Just saying, right? Remember? During the debates,” the US president said.
Is NATO at risk of breaking up?
Questions about NATO’s cohesion and disputes among its allies have become relevant amid Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, which is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, from the start of disputes with Washington over the island, stated that if the US attempted to seize Greenland, especially by military means, it would spell the end for NATO.
At the same time, neither Greenland nor Denmark intends to agree to US control of the island. Although the US even considered the idea of purchasing Greenland, this is also unacceptable to both the Danes and the island itself.
Danish military exercises
Meanwhile, Copenhagen announced military exercises in response to Trump’s threats and invited the US to join. Officially, the threat is said to come more from Russia and China, according to both sides of the dispute.
For example, the head of Denmark’s Arctic Command, Major General Søren Andersen, while inviting the US to participate in the exercises, said he considers it unlikely that one NATO country would attack another.
However, the US has not ruled out a military scenario to control Greenland, as Trump suggested. Some European countries also acknowledge this possibility but hope for a diplomatic solution.
Several NATO countries have already sent military personnel to Greenland to take part in Denmark’s exercises, Operation Arctic Resilience.
The US already has about 150 troops at Pituffik (the former Thule Air Base), under a 1951 defense agreement that guarantees Americans free access to Greenland’s territory.
What the US says about NATO membership
Recently, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the US will remain in the NATO Alliance.
During the discussion, Bessent did not directly answer whether Greenland or NATO is more important for US national security, calling it a false choice.
Trump officially cited the reason for the US interest in Greenland as protecting national security, claiming that China and Russia could potentially seize the island, posing a threat to the US.
