Another reason to vote for Trump.
He said in July, 2023, “I will not protect you from Russia” if they (NATO members) were “delinquent“ on NATO contributions.
He also said at a 2018 rally he had told U.S. allies he would withdraw from NATO if all countries do not spend 2% of their GDP on defense.
However, the Senate on July 19, 2023 passed a provision to the annual defense bill that would make it more difficult for a U.S. president to withdraw from NATO, a precautionary measure against President Trump’s potential return to the White House.
The bipartisan amendment would not allow the president to withdraw from NATO without congressional approval, requiring two-thirds of senators to vote for withdrawal. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., introduced the amendment alongside Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, which senators adopted in a 65-28 vote.
Trump may not be able to withdraw American from NATO, but he will get members to pay up.
“Trump may not be able to withdraw American from NATO, but he will get members to pay up.”
Article 5 has a huge weasel out phrase: each member state is to assist by taking “such action as [the member state] deems necessary”. Which means, as usual, it will be the USA alone. All those other pipsqueaks (except maybe Poland) will be useless.
I think making treaty members live up to their 2% promises is extremely important. I also believe that NATO shouldn’t be allowed to expand beyond its founding charter - NORTH ATLANTIC.
“Trump may not be able to withdraw American from NATO, but he will get members to pay up.”
Art of the Deal. Putin is also helping to get them to pay, as the “bad cop”.
Another year of attrition at these rates (assuming the US aid to Ukraine is approved for 2024), and Russia will be effectively broke financially, and will have expended their old Soviet arsenals, by the time President Trump assumes office in January 2025.
Russia will be hard up for a deal at the hands of the master, if they have not already made one by then.