Thewesternbalkans.
Will the US quits NATO. This is a question, which is very important for all Europeans, including the Western Balkan states and especially three countries members of the Alliance.
According to The Telegraph, on Wednesday (First of April), President Donald Trump said that he is considering pulling the US out of NATO after the allies refused to support the Iran war,
In an very emotional interview with the newspaper, Trump called the alliance a “paper tiger,” saying that withdrawing the US from the defence treaty is under consideration. Asked whether he would reconsider US membership in the alliance after the conflict, Trump said the issue is “beyond reconsideration.” “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way,” he said.
NATO allies have shown reluctance to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route that typically carries about 20% of global oil shipments, while Iran has effectively kept the strait closed for weeks, disrupting energy flows, driving up oil and gas prices, and raising concerns over a potential global recession.
Trump also said the lack of support is difficult to comprehend. “Beyond not being there, it was actually hard to believe. And I didn’t do a big sale. I just said, ‘Hey’, you know, I didn’t insist too much. I just think it should be automatic.”
Referring to the UK, Trump also criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for declining to take part in the US-Israeli war against Iran, casting doubt on the Royal Navy’s capabilities. “You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” he said, referring to the state of Britain’s fleet of warships.
According to the Daily Telegraph, this is the clearest signal yet that the White House no longer views Europe as a reliable ally in the field of defence. For many, the reason for the tension is the refusal of European countries to send warships to open the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked in response to the Israeli-American military campaign that began on February. But the real reason is the refusal of Europeans to take a real military engagement.
In an interview with Fox News, given hours before Trump’s conversation, Marco Rubio stated that the United States will have to reconsider its NATO membership after the end of the war with Iran. “I think there is no doubt that after this conflict ends, we will have to rethink these relations,” Rubio commented. According to him, if NATO means only the US defending Europe in the event of an attack, while European allies refuse to provide bases and logistical support when Washington needs them, this is not a sustainable partnership.
At the same time, the war is becoming increasingly controversial within the United States itself, as skepticism is growing in Congress about continuing to fund an operation that could cost hundreds of billions of dollars. According to a Pew Research study, 61% of Americans disapprove of the president’s actions regarding the war, while only 37% support them. Opinions are sharply divided: the majority of Republicans support the White House’s course, while among Democrats, support is minimal. This division is a result of the fact that after a month of conflict between the U.S. and Iran, increasing signs indicate that Donald Trump’s administration is facing serious difficulties in achieving its strategic goals, writes Foreign Policy, cited by ‘Focus.’
The American president claims that the U.S. military, together with Israel, inflicted significant losses on Iran. Key military and political figures were eliminated, missile capabilities weakened, and military infrastructure partially destroyed. Tehran’s allies, particularly the Hezbollah group, also came under attack. But despite these successes, the reality is that Iran maintained control of the situation and its ability to resist. The regime not only survived but continues to attack US military bases, Israel and its allies.
One of the key factors is the economy. Due to the partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the prices of oil, gas, and aviation fuel have sharply increased. This has led to global risks – from energy instability to potential crises in chip and food production. As a result, the war has weakened the international authority of the United States. Washington practically enjoys only limited support from its allies, while criticism from other countries is growing. According to international surveys, more respondents blame the US and Israel for the conflict than Iran.
Paradoxically, the conflict also benefits America’s rivals. The easing of sanctions has allowed Russia to increase its oil revenues because of rising energy prices.
Analysts say that the main problem is Washington’s inflated expectations. The initial goals of changing the regime in Iran, completely destroying its missile program, and ending its influence in the region so far remain unattainable.
First reactions: The German government, against the backdrop of statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding U.S. membership in NATO, confirmed Germany’s commitment to the North Atlantic Alliance. This was reported to journalists by the official spokesperson for the German federal government, Stefan Cornelius.
French President Macron, for his part, appealed to Donald Trump to reduce the unnecessary talking and focus on the real problems that he himself created.
Comments: Even upon his arrival at the White House, President Trump began a targeted campaign against his European allies, including claiming that they do not pay enough for their own security and defense. The new American National Security strategy is also very hard for the Europeans, but the peak of the attack came with the claim over the territory of Greenland.
Now the situation around Trump is quite difficult because he has entangled his country in a war that creates problems for him self. Much greater, however, are the problems of the US’s European allies, which also factors into the equation of the situation.
But on the other hand, history remembers almost the same positions of Donald Trump regarding NATO, Greenland and European allies in his previous term, as well as his intentions to withdraw the US from NATO. But this did not happen. And not only because of the “immense diplomatic abilities” of Jens Stoltenberg – NATO’s Secretary-General at the time.
