US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the 31st of March refused to confirm the US commitment to NATO’s collective defense, stating that it depends on President Donald Trump’s decision after the allies refused to participate in the American war against Iran, writes Reuters.
Hegseth’s statements are alarming, considering that collective defense is the basis of NATO’s activities. The alliance was founded in 1949 with the aim of preventing an attack by the Soviet Union on allied territory. Any signals from the US that it no longer wants to defend NATO allies would significantly weaken the alliance even if Trump chooses to maintain US membership. True, Trump also needs the approval of the US Congress to withdraw from the alliance.
Asked whether the US would still commit to NATO’s collective defense, Hegseth said that as far as NATO is concerned, that would be the president’s decision, but he could only add that much has become clear. Referring to tensions with NATO allies France, Italy, Spain and Britain, Hegseth said that when Americans ask for additional assistance or simply access to military bases and overflights, they face questions, obstacles and hesitation. It is not an alliance if there are countries in it that are unwilling to provide support when needed, and Trump is simply pointing that out, said Hegseth. Ultimately, it will be the US president’s decision on the future relationship.
Experts have long warned that remarks that suggest the US will not stick to its commitment to NATO could encourage Russia to test the readiness of alliance members to use Article 5.
The war against Iran has exacerbated friction between the United States and Europe,
which has been growing since Trump began his second term as president. Europe is also watching Trump’s efforts to broker peace in Ukraine with concern, and senior European Union officials worry that the US president could lean toward a peace deal that favors Moscow.
France has blocked Israel from using its airspace to deliver weapons supplies, and Italy has refused to allow US military aircraft to land at an air base in Sicily before heading to the Middle East. Spain also said on the 30th of March that it had closed its airspace to American warplanes involved in attacks on Iran.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Britain, the United States’ closest European ally, for not joining the war against Iran. On the 31st of March, he singled out Britain in a social media post, suggesting that securing the Strait of Hormuz would fall to the countries that need oil from the Middle East. Trump said Europe would have to learn to fend for themselves because the US would no longer help them, just as the British had not helped the Americans: ” Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
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