Description
The incoming Trump administration will significantly shape the positioning of the US role in NATO. Throughout his first administration, President Trump repeatedly criticized the reliance of NATO on US funding and the impact of NATO on U.S. security interests, stating that the United States should withdraw from the security alliance. This rhetoric resulted in bipartisan Congressional legislation in 2024 that requires the President to have two-thirds of Senate approval to withdraw the United States from NATO. And yet, serious concerns over reduced US support still exist, with many member states like the United Kingdom already publicly discussing the importance of a consistent US role. Given these political statements, this paper will study the legacy of the first Trump administration’s attitudes towards NATO and the second Trump administration’s policies in its first 100 days to assess the future of the US role in NATO. The paper argues that the Trump administration has created increased instability within NATO, diminished trust in US guarantees, and reduced the overall credibility of the alliance. The paper will also analyze the response by other member states, suggesting that they will need to enhance their own credibility and contributions to ensure that NATO remains strong for another 75 years.
