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The world may have to prepare for a second Donald Trump term. Despite the tense geopolitical situation, the Republican apparently wants to establish a new NATO model.
Washington – Former US President Donald Trump continues to roam the media even without a political role, simply because of his numerous legal problems. However, the 77-year-old is currently the Republicans' most promising candidate for the US presidential election. On Saturday, the real estate mogul once again attacked the NATO defense alliance during an election campaign appearance. In the future, the following will apparently apply: Anyone who fails to pay will not receive US protection. According to internal sources, Trump's team is already discussing concrete plans after an electoral victory – including a new NATO model.
According to media reports, Trump's confidants are already discussing a two-phase model for the NATO alliance in the event of an election victory. (Symbolic photo) © Matt Rourke/AP/dpa
Trump versus defaulting NATO nations: “No, I wouldn’t protect you.”
At Saturday's campaign event, Trump apparently spoke out loud. The “president of a great country” once asked him if the US would continue to protect this country from Russia, even if it did not pay defense expenses. The Republican responded: “No, I wouldn’t protect you.” Instead, he would “even encourage Russia to do whatever they want.”
It cannot be independently proven whether such a conversation actually took place. Trump himself added: “Let’s assume that happened.” The Republican is not necessarily known for his love of the truth: during his term alone, the 77-year-old told more than 30,000 lies, according to the Washington Post.
Either way, the message was clear. Countries that do not contribute at least two percent of their gross domestic product will no longer receive US protection. The North Atlantic Defense Alliance was founded in 1955 based on a simple premise: an attack on one member is an attack on all, as stated in Article 5.
Trump apparently wants to reduce US commitments to NATO if he wins the election
According to a report by the American news portal Bloomberg, Trump's confidants are already discussing a two-phase model for the NATO alliance in the event of an electoral victory. This would stipulate that Article 5 would only apply to nations that meet their defense spending targets. The decision has not yet been finalized, sources told the American newspaper. There is also the idea of a kind of tax for defaulting countries.
Mark Esper, Trump's former Defense Secretary, also sees no prospects for NATO if the Republican is re-elected. The former president sees the North Atlantic defense alliance as a kind of “country club”. “If you don't pay the fees, you won't be able to use the spa or play golf,” Esper told Newsweek.
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Military expert counters: this is how a former NATO general evaluates Trump's statements
Trump is a power-obsessed populist in election campaign mode, “who will use almost any means to return to power”, commented former NATO general Erhard Bühler about the former US president's statement on the podcast “What to do , General?” . The Republican is taking advantage of “the state of mind of part of society in the USA”. This part says: “What do we care about the war in Ukraine? […] We want our tax money to be spent on our needs.” From Bühler's perspective, Trump is a man who “lacks many things, decency, education, consideration, consideration.” The quote about NATO from the former US President fits perfectly into the frame.
The former president questioned the cohesion of the 31 NATO states with his statement, “a cohesion that should and is also in the US's own interest”. A particular world power needs allies who share a community of values with it. Bühler, on the other hand, does not see any “experienced American” who wants to dismember the North Atlantic community for strategic reasons. Such populist statements also went against the real interests of the US, says the former NATO general. However, Europe provided the basis for such statements. The former NATO general alluded to the fact that numerous states, including Germany, have not achieved NATO's 2% target for many years.